The Viking

I have often had problems taking photos of the colorful top decks and pool areas of ships at night. My main issue is the often heavy winds and gusts.

For my last cruise, I purchased a Platypod Ultra with accessories. I attached it firmly to the railing after some practice and was very pleased with the photos compared to handheld and I could keep the ISO low.

It will also work very well in case you want to take time lapse videos and do not want to bring a tripod.

Of course you can not take long exposures with this set up because of ships vibrations.

https://platypod.com/ I think the MXX will be too large to attach to the rounded top of the railings.

On Liberty. Whay is the question?

Not to start an argument, why can I board and airplane (flying domestically) with a DL only, but yet I need 2 forms of ID to cruise. The risks are still the same.

On a cruise you are leaving the country. Upon return you have to prove you can legally enter the country.

Many DL do not necessary indicate you are a legal resident. Soon you will need an enhanced DL to fly domestically.

Have TSA pre so no issues here. In Europe they ask me to take Camera out.

My suggestion is to rent a car for the day and visit the space center.

Every time I return to the States via air or sea, I have to show green card and my foreign passport.

Depending upon your location, it can be very difficult to do Global Entry. There was nowhere less than 2 hours each way for DD & SIL to go for Global Entry but they could go for TSA Precheck interviews 15 minutes from home.

Someone who is interested in GE will travel frequently and can easily schedule an interview for GE while transiting an airport. We did this in Houston on our way to FLL.

Hi,

Just wondered - one of the gifts available on board ship for D+ is a bottle of wine.

 

Is this a full size bottle or half?

 

Thanks!

NJ

We are also interested in knowing the size of the bottle

I use an older Pac Safe shoulder bag, not especially made for photo equipment.

It holds easily a Sony A6000 with 2 extra lenses well protected

Room for ipad and more.

My suggestion is to check out Pac Safe's shoulder bags which gives you MUCH easier access to your equipment than a back pack.

He has to register his new passport via a visit to a GE office, before getting the benefit with new passport.

As far as I understand, no appointment needs for such appointments.

Do the 90 minutes for Elite have to be used in one block or can you use it over a few days?

When we travel we use these and love them. If we are gone for say 2 weeks, we just double up. Plenty of room in each pocket and when you come back to the States, they are empty so you do not have to worry. Also, they have never been expected in any country,- yet.

https://www.magellans.com/itemdy00.aspx?T1=MFV690+BK&srccode=NXCMC3&utm_source=Nextag&utm_medium=comparison&utm_campaign=datafeed&source=origin&gdffi=7dda940cb6754507b2848bca01956600&gdfms=6777ECA4015847229A230463919B2BF7

This would be a clue as to why I carry a second body equipped with the alternate lens these days. :)

 

 

Dave

So you want me to carry 2 bodies with lenses plus binoculars?;)

I have thought of your suggestion, but then I need one more or a new camera bag for the flight to the port.:(

Thanks everyone.

Dave,

This is actually what I do just with a small shoulder bag. Have lost some photo shots this way.

xlxo and Maligator,

Appreciate your replies regarding zoom lenses, but zoom is not the only reason I carry various lenses with me. Yes cargo pants area great to carry lenses in, but slow.

When I walk around on the ship, I often bring 2 additional lenses with me which can be a litter cumbersome even though the lenses are relative small for my A6000.

Do any of you use any system such as Vello Rapid lens changer or similar or Think Tank Photo Lens Changer or something else.

We always travel with a luggage scale which can be purchased at office supply stores, Walmart etc. as well as mail order.

This way you can be certain that you are not overweight for your trip home. I find that my scale is accurate compared to many airline scales around the world, but I always leave a 5 lbs. margin.

Yes Harmony is all about BYOB:D

WJ has all the choices MDR not really that much - no cheese rolls, nothing with seeds, no mini-bites quite a limited choice in the MDR!

If no mini-bites I will cancel an upcoming cruise.

You State that you want to go to Germany, but do not state what you want to see or do.

The Northern part is very different than the Southern part.

I would like to suggest to fly in to München and rent a car to catch your ship. This will give you plenty opportunities to Explorer Germany.

In which part of the world do you plan on cruising?

Currently aft starboard on Allure 14 floor under the basketball court.

No noise and with the wide overhang we were able to enjoy the balcony in the rain while all public space was crowded.

Currently on Allure in a starboard storeroom.

In the ports you mentioned we docked starboard so we had a view of all the piers.

Nassau: only ship in port so we had a "great" view of the city.

Charlotte Amalie: Again only ship with a view of the big hill blocking the view of the city. Way better than t e other view though.

Basseterre view of half the city. Would have preferred port side this time with nicer view of city- I think.

My daughter is diamond on her own so she doesn't need us to go in the lounge :).

If your daughter is under 18, I believe she still has to be with an adult even if she is diamond.

Are you thinking of Barcelona?

I pack photo gear not only according to the cruise itself, but also to the ports and time of day you are in ports.

If I take the "basic" Caribbean cruise out of Florida, I always bring along UV Haze filter as well as ND filter. I often find a haze in the Caribbean and enjoy taking photos of "smooth" water and waterfalls.

As to tripod, if I am in an interesting city before or after the cruise or stay in port after dark, I always bring along a travel tripod.

With my Sony a6000 I can easily have it all in a handy and secure Packsafe shoulder bag.

Once we went through immigration onboard the ship. I recall that US foreigners were asked to bring their ESTA papers with them, - so do not leave this behind.