frantic36

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that all goes smoothly for flights and testing. 🤞 Have a wonderful time.

I am curious, having read many recent threads which ones said they can't get French reds onboard?

I would think that Hong Kong is the issue rather than Singapore. We are flying though Singapore soon and we are not concerned at all as I have been following the updates carefully.

Friends have just got off a Odyssey cruise a few days ago and apart from a few very minor hiccups they had an enjoyable cruise and they will complain if they think standards have dropped.They don't do cruise critic even though they checked it out a few years ago. I do hope that you find all is well. I am also boarding our cruise in 2.5 weeks and am going with a wait and see attitude rather than looking for fault. After 2.5 years of border closures and lock downs I am ready to explore the world again.

Agreed. I just checked the latest and lengthy is a good word.

Not when I sailed with them and I don't think on my friend's either because the sail regularly on Seabourn and other luxury lines so they are price savvy.. I have always said the only way the cabins are comparable is if you sail Penthouse and above but the discussion is about the small standard cabins which most people would book.

Not everyone agrees with this statement. I didn't enjoy my Crystal experience in 2012 but thought maybe it had improved but a friend sailed with them in 2019 and though they said food and service was good there was a lot they didn't enjoy including the small standard cabin size. They said they wouldn't go on Crystal Ocean again but they would go on Crystal River since they had enjoyed sailing with them.

Gorgeous photo but I hope you have brought lots of warm clothes 🙂. It is cold here in Perth so it is likely a lot colder in Auckland. If you get a chance to go over to Wahaike Island, about a 20 minute ferry, and do a wine tour, there are many great wineries there.

No loss Lola. I sailed with them in normal cabin, I wouldn't call it a suite like on Silversea or Seabourn, 2012 and after that sailing I chose never to return. I found it interesting that yesterday on the Crystal board someone was claiming that only on Crystal had they experienced the true meaning of "my pleasure" from the crew. My experience was the opposite with lots of hiccups from stewardess to guest services to maitre d'. Though I did note that Mr L who was in a Penthouse did get better service because of his butler. On sailing Silversea and Seabourn I found the crew and service much better.

Thank you steamboats. My husband and I have enjoyed looking at your wonderful pictures both of the trail and the Abbey. The hike is something we feel we could do if needed after looking at the photos.

Glad you are negative again and free to enjoy the rest of your cruise. Thanks for the laugh, I'm sure you looked lovely for your celebration meal together. I loved that story as well even though it made me cry in some sections. Enjoy Guernsey, a place I would also like to visit.

I am so sorry you have to deal with these constant communication issues. Having read your posts I know you are a glass half full person and you will have a good time once you get onboard. 🙂

Hoping you have a lovely sunny day to enjoy Denmark.

I empathise. I loved my Dad and he loved his family but his experiences fighting as a teenager in Poland during the war caused PTSD and so we had to learn to adapt as children. However he always was proud of his children and grand children. Dolce, your Dad looks amazing, fun and loving. The fact he installed curiosity and joy of life in his family is a wonderful thing.

I hope you get a Silversea Rep as good as the one I got when I booked my first cruise a few years ago as he was helpful and offered OBC as well. He is based in Sydney. We were using him again when there was a faint chance we could do an Australian cruise late last year. I was very sad to have to cancel due to continuing restrictions but our next Silversea cruise I will book with him even though my usual TA is very good for other cruises.

An Italian friend who lives here suggested a restaurant in Camogli. When I started researching how to get there I rediscovered the Abbey at San F. and remembered we had never got there. My friend also told me the Abbey would be good to visit. Thanks for mentioning it though as Camogli will be on the list for next time.

Thank you for this encouraging review. We will be onboard Sojourn in just over three weeks and looking forward to it. Like you I am just planning to go with the flow as even some of our favourite hotels we have stayed in within our own State are suffering from issues with less experienced staff. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

There are so many well travelled people on this board I thought I might ask this random question. In my upcoming cruise we are due to visit Portofino. I have visited before but have never visited the Abbey at San Fruttuoso, an Italian friend tells me it is lovely. I know it can only be done by ferry or hiking. Has anyone done either of these and your opinions on whether I should pre-book the ferry? I only mention the hike as if for some reason next month there is a problem with a return ferry due to rough seas we can hike back 😊. If you have visited could you recommend a restaurant that would be appreciated, thanks. We are looking at Da Giorgio which is near the ferry stop. Recent google reviews sound positive.

I respect your opinion however some of these profiling questions in the ESTA should have been laid to rest many years ago. I have to redo mine later this year and just sigh at some of the questions as they are inane.

Agreed. I have met crew one subsequent cruisers who have been promoted based on positive feedback on mid and end of cruise surveys. One stewardess I remember from Zimbabwe was very pro-active and gave me a list of ideas of things to do when we went to Zimbabwe or South Africa. I mentioned this to the Hotel Manager at a dinner and how this positive help would be great in Guest Services which was where she hoped to go. I was very pleased to see her in Guest Services the next time we met and she was very good at her job.

Yes and we had a great time. Looking forward to sailing with you again just not in Russian waters.

Thank you for your live review and your ongoing information in quarantine. I have enjoyed your writing and am sorry you have had to deal with this. This comment made me think that if I do test positive when I cruise having the ability to at least go out onto a balcony rather being stuck in a hotel room is a positive. Fingers crossed all will be fine and you will be out on the 20th.

I found it interesting that on a thread started yesterday on the Silversea board that some have received emails indicating a change to Northern Europe itineraries for 2023 due to the ongoing conflict Russia started. https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2859391-2023-northern-europe-upcoming-itinerary-changes/#comment-63393066

That is in poor form and I agree not something they should be doing. I won't forgive Russia or forget that easily.

Interesting and unfortunate. We have given to the crew fund on every cruise at different points in the cruise and it has always been acknowledged with a letter and crew thanking us. The crew thanking us makes me feel embarrassed, so now if we give it early I ask at Guest services that it not be known to the crew. It doesn't always happen but at least I tried.