World Gallery

Trying to book alternative dining but I don't want it to interfere with showtimes in the main theater.  I am getting conflicting information - 7:00/9:00 and 8:45/10:45. We are on QE, Alaska, 10 nights.  Also, is the a nightly show?  Thanks.

We would like to whale watch in a different way from our previous trip (small boat tour).  ABAK offerss "Kayak with Whales" but it is pricey ($419 per person).  I was hoping for feedback from others that may have done this or a similar tour.  This one is in Juneau but I see other kayak tours in Ketchikan (is it possible to see whales by kayak there?).  I understand I would not be getting super close but was wondering if this is legit or good marketing.  Any kayak tour feedback in Ketchiikan, Icy Strait or Juneau would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

I have spent a lot of time researching tour options and they are all starting to blend together (so many kayaking, whale watching, nature hikes).  It is overwhelming so I was wondering if it is possible to book some tours at the Kiosks once exiting the ship with private venders.  It would also give us the chance to decide if the weather is worth the tour (Seaplane, Kayaking). Also, if we miss seeing whales in one port, have the option to try again.  Our ports are Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Icy Strait, Ketchikan.  We are on Cunard Queen Elizabeth and most are long port days (Icy Strait is 13 hours, Juneau 12 hours).  

Any suggestions for last minute tours that were enjoyed? Thanks

What are the pros and cons of flying into Seattle vs Vancouver for a July cruise?  If we fly into Seattle, it is non-stop from New Orleans but what are the options for getting to Vancouver?  If flying into Seattle is more of a hassle than having a connecting flight to Vancouver (probably through Denver but Google flights states this connectin is often delayed by 30 plus min) then we will deal with connection. Our top priority is the most pleasant option with the least amount of hassle, not price. We love to travel but very much dislike the process of getting to our destination.  Also, where would we clear US customs on the return flight? Thank you

We are new to Cunard and were about to book online when I noticed that there are no times listed for the ports of call.  We are looking at Queen Elizabeth, 10 day, Alaska from Vancouver.  The only thing listed is "early morning, morning, afternoon, or evening".  Is it possible to find the actual times for each port?  Thank you.

I am interested in the July or August cruise on either Volendam and Zaandam.  They are 24 and 25 day cruises, Boston to Boston, New England to Iceland.  I love the convenience of not having the long flight and we are trying to escape the heat of New Orleans.  I thought I found the perfect option until I started reading the reviews for both of these ships.  We did take one HAL cruise many years ago to Alaska and loved it.  Being these are 24 or 25 day cruises, we are reluctant because that is a long time for a ship to be "your home".  I do not need perfection and choose cruises based on itinerary but the reviews are significantly worse than reviews for other ships (cabins making noises, old and worn interiors, bad service, etc.)  Has anyone gone on either of these ships recently that can offer insight`?  Any positive feedback or should we avoid?  I know it is a trade off, old ship for great itinerary. 

It was NCL, Sun or Star (can’t remember), 10 years ago. 

Trying to decide if I want to book a balcony or interior cabin for a Norwegian Fjord cruise in mid August.  I have been on a Baltic cruise and landbased trips to St. Petersburg in the summer and the light in the middle of the night bothers me, even with mask.  How well do the curtains work in keeping out the light on the Silhouette?  Are there gaps at the bottom/sides of the curtains?  I'm sure it won't be perfect but if I cannot block out most light, I may book an interior and use the decks for viewing.    

Thanks.  This is very helpful.  Well, the first itinerary was sold out.  I did a bit more searching and found the one we booked.  I didn't want to go 18 days but I am finding that no cruise I look into is ideal in every way.  I can still cancel but it seems this is the best option.  Any comments would be appreciated. Is it safe to assume that the ports in Norway won't be as affected by summer crowds as much as a British Isle cruise would be?

Scottishclover - we have a stop in Edinburgh so I guess we will have to plan well and figure out one thing to do that won't be unbearable then plan to go back on a land trip in the future. 

I found two cruises (listed below) I was interested in and both are "waitlist" only. I didn't realize this until I started the booking process and had to select a cabin (all sold out).  The cruise was still being listed even though there was no availibility at all.   I have never heard of this before, being waitlisted with the option of being put on the priority list to "skip the line" if I pay the deposit.  I am very interested in the cruises below.  My question, what are the chances of being cleared with a spot?  I was told I was # 60 in line without a deposit.  I am not sure if I should waitlist or move on and find something else.  Curious as to why the cruise line would even keep a waitlist with 50 plus people.  Maybe there is something about their process I do not understand.  Any insights into the waitlist process? 

18 Days Transatlantic & Repositioning

Oceania Cruises • Vista

Southampton, Le Havre, Saint Malo, Torbay, Cork, Belfast, Dublin, Killybegs, St. John's/Newfoundland, Saint-Pierre, Saint John/New Brunswick, Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport/Rhode Island, New York City

1 departure dates: Aug 30 2023 – Sept 17

12 Days Transatlantic & Repositioning

Thank you.  That is a great, simple way to explain it!

I have narrowed it down to these two but I am open to suggestions.  Any feedback regarding which one may be better for a couple that doesn't want to tender or miss a port due to weather conditions in August. Also, I was told not to miss Edinburgh but I don't want to base a decision on one port. 

The cruiseline highlighted some ports on the 2nd itinerary in blue stating that they are "unique ports".  Is there any truth to that? 

Or

My husband and I are getting "analysis paralysis" and cannot decide on either the British Isles or Norwegian Fjords.  We have looked at itineraries for Holland America, Viking and Azamara and they all seem great, but it is overwhelming (some include more of Ireland vs. Scotland).  Which cruise would offer a blend of beauty and history?  We are history buffs but loved an Alaskan cruise we took for the amazing beauty.  I guess we want to see something awe inspiring but do want opportunities to tour historically places and a few museums, not just scenery.  Also, I am afraid of heights, and I am trying to figure out if excursions on a Norwegian Fjords tour may be too difficult for me.  Are any Norwegian Fjords ports tender ports (do not like)?  Any insights would be appreciated.  We are looking at July - early Sept. 2023. 

That is very much appreciated.  Thank you.

sleeping cat - a few more questions.  Is it safe to assume the first 2 weeks of September has a decent chance of good weather?  We do not mind cool or even cold temps because by Sept., we are so tired of the extreme heat/humidity we are still having in Louisiana.  We can't travel in June and if July will be too crowded, it looks like Sept may be the best option but your insights would be appreciated.  We have done Mediterranean cruises in May and a Baltic cruise in June and the weather was good but never a British Isle cruise.  Thanks.

Thanks everyone.  Very helpful!

Glad to know that Southhampton is not the only port from England.  I will check into Dover and Tilbury.  The reason for a port in England is so that we can spend a few days exploring London and the surrounding area.  Also, there is a direct flight from Heathrow to New Orleans, which is a huge deal for us.  I know that AC is not common in hotels like the USA and even when they do have it, a friend  (flight attendent friend spends a lot of time at hotels in London), says that AC doesn't work well during a heat wave.  

jsn55 - I will also look into that particular cruise.  I have heard small ships have a lot of movement.  I am not prone to sea sickness but would prefer not to take a chance if there is a big difference.

Looks like Viking may be a good option for us afterall because it is a smaller ship so maybe that means we can dock closer to town but I will explore the other options.  

Also, forgot to mention we prefer enrichment over entertainment.  

Researching our first British Isle cruise and the options are getting a bit overwhelming.  I figure I will narrow it down by the main things we are hoping for in a cruise.  Has anyone been on a British Isle cruise with these criteria:

Few or no tender ports (too time consuming or risk of not getting into port)

Ending in Southhampton (best to begin there also but ending there is preferred)

Also, is there a best month regarding weather?  We are hoping to avoid extreme heat (or extreme crowds in port) like the heatwave last summer in London or risky month regarding not getting into port due to weather.  Our options are July-Sept. Viking Venus looks good but it is the most expensive.  Regal Princess is also appealing, 12 day British Isle with Orkney Island.

Open to any cruiseline other than Carnival and MSC.  

Are there ports of call we should consider as "must see" when choosing itinerary?

Any insights into choosing a British Isle cruise would be appreciated.  Thanks.

These are excellent insights.  Thank you!

My husband and I are long time cruisers.  We have tried most cruise lines and have been on a variety of itineraries over the years. I have been a CC member for over 12 years. This is the 3rd attempt to research and book a cruise.  I am overwhelmed by the negative reviews in general, so I am considering just doing land trips, but we know we are "cruisers by nature" because you see more, and we love the convenience.  We are hoping to do a British Isles cruise either July, Aug., or Sept of 2023.  I was about to book Viking Venus but starting reading about how shore excursions and diner reservation are done by category (and you won't get your choice if not in top Cat.) along with many other negative points.  Looked in Oceania Riviera and the reviews are so negative I stopped reading. Regal Princess and NCL Dawn, negative reviews. I am hoping to hear what is still good and positive about cruising or should I wait until things recover a bit longer from Covid?  Is it really that bad?  I have not been on a cruise in 4 years.  Also, any feedback about a British Isles cruise getting positive reviews, it would be appreciated.  We are open to any cruise line. PS I meant this post for the "Other" forum. 

I understand it can't be predicted exactly but I was wondering about the time of year.  I live in a hurricane prone area so I understand it is risky to book a cruise in August and Sept. for the Gulf of Mexico.  Just wondering if there is the equivalent to the "height of hurricane" season in river cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest.

New to river cruising.  My husband surprised me by putting a Viking River cruise "on hold" for April 16-30 for our anniversary until midnight tonight (one cabin left).  He didn't do any research on river levels (didn't even know this could be an issue).  A friend told him about it and he was sold but the friend didn't go in the spring.  I tried reading reviews but wanted to ask the experts here.  What are the chances of the river being too high in mid to late April for this route?  I would be disappointed if we were on a bus or switching ships many times.   It is on Viking Gefjon, Grand European Tour.  He wants to book ASAP.  Thanks.  

I just read the report sent to me by a concerned family member that knows I am going on this cruise at the end of January. Apparently, the main news outlets ran the story. I was about to post when I saw this thread.

Can anyone comment that has recently been on the ship? Is there any particular food one should avoid (I read the cheese and milk were not at the right temp)? How seriously will Carnival take this? I am hoping for some very fast changes!

My prayers go out to these families. Such a tragedy. This is heartbreaking news.

My hope is that the cruise industry takes this seriously and there is a major overhaul in screening and the process in which private companies are hirer. Years ago we were on a Celebrity cruise and a Mexican bus company was hired to take passengers from San Diego to Mexico, where we boarded the ship. Words cannot express the sheer terror I felt on that bus trip. The bus driver was reckless, was speeding and the roads were narrow with no guard rail. Myself and others took a picture of the license plate, reported the incident, emailed and follow through again once at home. It fell on deaf ears. The incident was so disturbing that we have never booked another big bus tour through any cruise line in Mexico. A year before that incident, we witnessed a drowning death on our ship sponsored excursion in Mexico due to negligence. I understand accidents can happen anywhere but I strongly feel safety is not a top priority.

Thanks for the info. Paris to Normandy does sound like a good option for teens.

I have checked into everything suggested here. There is so much to think about! Thanks so everyone.

Just showed my daugther some options and asked her what her top country would be to see on a river cruise and she said, "Poland, definitely Poland! Paris would be nice but its not on the top of my list." Funny how teens can be!

I agree with sunsetbeachgal.

We took a Baltic cruise with our adult children, enjoyed it tremendously. Lots of interesting ports.

We already took them on a Mediterranean and Baltic ocean cruise. They were great but a river cruise has been our dream for a while now since you can get to places you cannot get to by ocean cruise. We really want to be able to get off of the ship and almost walk into town. Also, we are interested in the ports, not the ship experience this time. I am almost viewing this as a floating hotel used to sleep at night.