Nova Cruisers

Thanks very much!  We are booked for November of 2019.  

Thank you also to the poster who talked about Expert Flyer.  We were able to use that service to get AA award tickets on ATN.  This forum is a wealth of knowledge!  

Thanks very much for the reply.

Bump

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Another vote for AQ and Blu

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Just adding that United changed our nonstop flights as well and we had to cancel and switch to American connecting in MIA.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for the information about getting to Christiansted from the ship in Fredericksted. I’m hoping for comments about the reliability of finding a taxi/shuttle for the return to the ship. Thanks

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hello again. I was happy to see that windsurfing is back! It is on page 4 of the 2019 brochure! Yay!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hello - $520 for a 12 night cruise sounds good to me. Of course that number changes as the pricing changes but we paid appx that much for a recent 7 day. And we paid something like low 300s for another 7 day this year.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Just reviewed my photos and I’m pretty sure you can do both. You are never far from the water. I didn’t want to sign up for an excursion that would take hours by boat. I was happy staying close to the tender ports. On rangiroa I think I was on the same beach that the crew uses. Just to the left from the tender.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Was this on both Rangiroa and Fakarava?

Sorry it was so long ago I don’t recall.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I was able to snorkel in the tuamotus from beaches within walking distance in 2011 while DH was diving.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

To David and Wendy - looking forward to your review in September. We just booked PG for the Marquesas in 2019 and are now targeting SB for first time in 2020. Hope to find a great Med itinerary with not too much in France since we’ve done that.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Curious if any of you have seen customers windsurfing.

I just received another email from PG with a link to complimentary windsurfing but the specific page with the schedule for the water sports marina only mentions kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

DH can’t dive anymore but he loves to windsurf.

Thanks for any info.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I recently saw a specific schedule for the water sports platform on the website by each itinerary. I don’t recall exactly but it wasn’t open much. I was hoping to windsurf which is mentioned in some promotional materials and other pages of the website. On the specific schedule the only equipment mentioned as being allowed were kayaks and stand up paddle boards.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for the information. That’s helpful!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hello - new here. Bumping this because I am also interested in the Champagnes/methode champenoise (not prosecco and the like). Any comments? Thanks. Thinking of taking our first O cruise. Is this something better brought onboard? I would hate to pay 60 per day and have to carry on my own bubbly.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks. I will post back too when I get more info

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thinking of something similar so hope you get some info. Would like a yacht with its own water toys like windsurf boards and just Greece to keep the cruising time reasonable. Anyone out there who can advise whether this is reasonable for someone not on the Forbes list?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

A belated thanks! We took an excursion rather than renting a car. Long day on a bus.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Could someone post if they know whether the Summit is docking in town (Pointe Simon) or over in the cargo area this season? We were hoping to rent a car in the downtown area. Thanks

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Does the Solstice have a T-pool?

Not as nice as the m class.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Absolutely have a coffee and breakfast pastry at Cafe al Baccio. Better than breakfast in Blu.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We arrived home Christmas Day after a wonderful cruise on the Silver Explorer. Have not written a complete review yet, but happy to answer any questions. Thanks to those of you who patiently answered my questions before the trip!

Most scary aspects of the trip from Aerolineas Argentinas, to the Drake, to the Zodiac landings and weather were better than expected. We had the Drake Lake both ways so no horror stories. Our Expedition Team was the highlight for me. Very professional, personal, knowledgeable - delightful! My clothing preparations were fine thanks to this board. One day was cold/windy enough that I had on all layers: hat, balaclava, glove liners, gloves, sock liners, socks, two thin technical upper layers under the new SS-issued Haglofs parka, one thin technical lower layer under ski pants, with waterproof hiking pants over the ski pants. Took charcoal hand and foot warmers but they were not necessary. The other days required fewer layers.

My favorite accessory that I don't think was mentioned was a lanyard for my camera. I have a small point and shoot that only has a wrist strap, so the lanyard attached to the wrist strap enabled me to safely handle the camera and tuck it into my pocket. I never used the SS-issued backpack until the flight home. (They also issue water bottles but I did not take them since I wasn't using a backpack. Our excursions were not really long enough that I needed to carry water. On one of the hikes I ate some clean snow/ice.)

The only other tip I can think of is to order a parka larger than you think you will need. It was a bit of a messy process. The parka was not in my room when we arrived but we had 2 days to get things straightened out. I think we ordered a Men's size 6 for my husband (he normally wears a US Men's size large) and a Women's size 7 for me (I normally wear a US size 12 or large). When the parkas arrived they were marked Men's XL for him, and as mine was missing I can't tell you the equivalent for a 7, but I ended up wearing a Women's XXL.

Everything else was wonderful. I can nitpick all day but we had wonderful accommodations, food, Champagne, enrichment, weather, fellow cruisers, whales, penguins, etc., etc. We saw chicks, and the penguin guano at this time of year was not very smelly and easy to clean off. There are free washers and dryers (with free soap) on deck 4 so we even came home with clean clothes.

Happy to answer any questions, and of course this means that I do recommend Silversea and the Silver Explorer (only 132 passengers and an ice-strengthened hull class 1A) for your Antarctica expedition!

Our 2011 itinerary included the Tuamotus. I don't remember specific calls but DH confirmed that he was fine running his business through AT&T roaming and wifi for email. Not cheap if you don't get the right plans set up in advance but doable. We usually also use a service that translates voicemail into email.

AT&T was adequate in 2011 and 2012. The ship has wifi that was adequate if slow. I believe it was better in 2012.