cruiser1955
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Posts posted by cruiser1955
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2 hours ago, retiredbrit said:
Hi Milton Keynes "Cruiser 1955".
Joyce and I are on the 16 Feb sailing, maybe even travelling there from Berkhamsted in the same transport as you as MK is not that far from us.
We have done this itinerary (more or less) with P&O, so know how cold it can be, we are taking lots of warm clothing in layers.
The ship looks very good - we are looking forward to it
Alan
Hi Alan and Joyce
I booked over 2 years ago and at long last the time has come. I did say I wouldn't book any more cruises until I had tried Saga but they are so slow in bringing out their brochures that I soon broke that idea.
I've only been to the Artic in the summer months, but have taken the precaution of getting plenty of layers - hope there will be enough space in the transport 🙂 Have you had a pick-up time yet - nothing for me so far. See that Narvik has been cancelled and replaced with a call to Harstad.but no notification from Saga about it as yet.
Jon
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Thanks for the review Richard. Northern Lights in a few days will be my first with Saga. It will be nice to be on a smaller ship - my current favourites are the two smaller Queens and Arcadia. As a solo traveller, the price seems to be competitive when you look at what is included and are able to book early to take advantage of the early booking discount.
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I've created an Excel spreadsheet from info on one UK website. Will give an idea of prices but just Britannia entry level cabin grades.
Edit: A separate page for each ship in the XLS file-
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On 2/5/2019 at 11:43 PM, Jack E Dawson said:
I received this e-mail purporting to be Cunard initiated. However, when I began to take the survey the questions seemed very general, mostly regarding lifestyle and nothing regarding Cunard or even cruising specific so I closed without completing. Now I'm regretting even clicking on the survey link. Wondering if anyone else has received this or if this might be typical of a Cunard Survey.
I thought it interesting that in the last paragraph is says "Cunard has asked GfK .....to conduct this study on OUR behalf." rather than on THEIR behalf.
I had a survey around that date as well. It followed the questions of one that I received about 3 years ago which was asking about voyages to Asia and Alaska. Then, about a year later, along come the itineraries for QE to Asia and Alaska.
This latest survey was asking about my thoughts on cruises to Norway. They were 12 or 14 nights in duration and included the North Cape. So, maybe aimed at the 2022 summer market when the new ship comes online. Have to say that the itineraries proposed seemed to me to be far more interested than those currently on offer with Southampton departures.
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You have several options for tours. You can use one of the local companies such as Alla, StP, etc all of whom offer 1,2, or 3 day excursion plans. Although I haven't been with any of the local companies, I've heard good reports. They use mini buses to take you around and tend to leave the ship very early in order to get in to one or two places before they get too crowded. The ship 2 day tours follow a similar itinerary and also use mini buses.
I've been to St Petersburg 8 times, 4 times on a Baltic cruise and will be going again next year. It is a beautiful city and has far too much to see and do in a few days. As to must sees, if you decide not to do a 2 day tour, then I'd suggest Catherine's Palace (add the option of the Amber workshop if available).
A river cruise gives a good view of the city and I'd combine it with the Peter and Paul fortress. The Hermitage is one of the worlds best museums and art galleries but the ship's excursion tends to go at a busy time. This is where the 2 day tours try and get there early before the crowds arrive. As you've already booked the ballet - a great choice I did it last year - the option of the evening visit with concert to the Hermitage is out - if you go back do it then.
Petershof is another palace that is well worth a visit, but if you do Catherine's, then I'd consider the Church of the Spilt Blood or the trip that includes the underground and local market. You will find that on the general excursions there is limited time for any shopping. Something different would be to go to the Faberge museum where 9 of the Faberge Easter eggs are on show - this may be offered with a river cruise.
The cruise terminal has a range of tourist shops once you have gone through immigration. They take roubles, US$, £, Euros and credit cards and are of similar prices to in town. There is one shop on the quayside that does not require you to go through immigration. Only time you are likely to need local currency is for toilets (some are free but others will charge £1, US$1, 1 Euro) or some purchases in museums/churches but most will accept credit cards.
Enjoy which ever tours you decide on and don't forget, you have some other wonderful ports. Last year I was on Azura, and there were some lengthy queues for immigration in StP but it did go smoothly. Unfortunately, you have to go through immigration every time you go ashore.
About 30 minutes after departing StP you will pass the island of Krondstadt which will be on the starboard side of the ship. It's well worth being on deck for the view.
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36 minutes ago, Aquadesiac said:
How lovely that airfare is included for you. It was not for our WC booking. Must be something for UK passengers. 😉
The fare also includes transfers. The nice thing is that everything is booked in one transaction and not having to wait until flights become available. It seems that booking really early, the airfare is also lower than booking say 9 months before departure. My Japan - Alaska cruise this year had flights and transfers priced at 920 pounds when I booked in 2017 but later rose to 1220 pounds. Flights are schedule with British Airways - not sure if all Cunard flights are with BA, but all of mine to date have been..
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I booked on Monday for March 2021. QE Sydney to Tokyo for 37 nights. Very surprised that I was able to book a single cabin and get it on the early saver fare which includes flights and a hotel in Tokyo at the end of the cruise - for operational reasons.. It's effectively 3 back to back cruises but sold under one cruise ID and gives a good saving. Off this may on QE for Japan and Alaska 🙂
Seems Cunard is starting to get their act together on the price of the single cabin as it now seems to offer a good discount compared to booking an outside with single supplement. Have one on QV this December as well and the single worked out at just over £100 than the price per person based on double occupancy of an outside one when I booked - that was a Cunard fare, so also gave me parking at Southampton.
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Gill
Check the menus before you book. I was on Ventura in December and started a thread about the Epicurean menus. Personally, I think they have gone downhill a bit. Menu A is my favourite, but Menu B is poorer. Friends had the fish and chips and thought it was very poor - the fish and chips in the Glasshouse was in their minds more superior. The Tiger Prawns on Menu A was very good but slightly spicy.
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Do you remember your time lapse settings? like a pic every 5 seconds etc.. thanks!
Hi Jeeperzz
I set take a pic to every 2 secs. I usually shoot in 1920*1080 mode as that is the resolution for creating HD videos. I am playing around with the 4000*3000 to try creating videos for use on a 4K tv, but that creates a few problems as it is a 4*3 format rather than 16*9.
Using Microsoft MovieMaker, I import all photos, then, select all phots once imported before clicking the click on the edit tab and set duration to 0.1 (you have to enter this value manually as it only shows duration in whole seconds). You may want to experiment with the duration value to make a smoother video depending on what you are filming but I find a setting between 0.1 and 0.05 seems to be best for what I've filmed - the smaller this value, the faster the movie will play..
Suggest you import just 100 or so photos to experiment with at first to get the settings right in MovieMaker.
Depending on your computer, I've imported up to 7,000 photos at a time and it has taken around 20 minutes to create the video - again, time will depend on which options you use to save the video.
If you want some further help, email me - address in my signature - and I'll see if I can help.
Good luck
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I've seen this a few times. When I checked a case of this last year it was down to different grades of cabin being offered - the low select fare was for an obstructed view whereas the saver fare was for the top grade outside cabin and the lower grade outside cabins not being available on the saver fare. It is only when you get through to getting a quote the differences become apparent. Don't know if that was the same in the case that has been illustrated by Stephen
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Here are the menus. They are on the P&O website, but easier to provide as an attachment.
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Seems to have been dropped. I'll post the menus
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Just back off Ventura where I tried the new menus - price is the same at £28 per person.
The dining experience is still good along with the service. These are just a few of my observations and others may disagree as some select dining options are down to personal taste.
There have been a few changes and some are good, others not so good. Gone is the Poulette de Bresse, replaced with Black leg chicken. Also gone are the lipstick and fried egg pre-deserts - a shame as it brought a fun element to the meal.
Menu 1. Good but the pre-desert chocolate and blackcurrant lollipop may be a bit of an acquired taste - better if eaten in one go and allow it to melt in the mouth rather than nibble at it
The halibut was very good but was for 2 people. Tiger prawns were amazing and very, very big - only 2 but plenty of meat on them.
Menu 2. The fish and chips was a bit of a miss with my friends - the glasshouse version was preferred. Lobster was very good as was the Dover sole. The mousse and serrano ham starter was very good. Again, the pre-desert was all 4 of us a definite miss - vile came to mind. Menu 2 did not seem to offer as good value as menu 1.
Didn't try the steak options on either menu.
Compared to the Ocean Grill on Arcadia, my view is that menu 2 is overpriced.
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Could you possibly tell me what make/model your cheap action camera was? Might get one for our travels!
Sent from my iPad using Forums
Not the one I bought - can't remember what it was called but this looks to be a similar specification and comes with the same accessories. No brand name on mine and the manual is a simple sheet of paper so you need to play around with it a bit to get the hang of it. For trying time lapse, just recorded a trip in the car.
If you type "action cam" in the Amazon search box it will come up with a lot of options. I don't think many come with a memory card but I just bought a cheap 16GB micro SD card for around £5.
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Looks to be right. 5% reduction on an alternative cruise offered. A travel agent has posted elsewhere to say it is only that cruise that has been affected. Hopefully your cruise will be OK but it is as you say due to mechanical issues.
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They also come out for the solo travellers morning meets and the uneaten ones go below decks where the crew happily appreciate them, or so I've been told.
It is supposed to be a secret. It's one of the benefits that solo travellers get for their single supplement :)
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The usual supplement for inside, outside and balcony is 60% on the select or early saver fare. However, if the cruise is selling well, it can increase - one I have booked for next year has gone up to 80%. On late savers the supplement is 100%. You can do a dummy booking on the P&O web site and that will give you the current price.
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Thank you for your reply. Your video was really inspirational. I hadn't thought of doing time lapse videos, but I think they will be perfect in the Fjords.
Maz, glad you enjoyed the video and that it has given you a few ideas. I've yet to visit the Norwegian fjords with the camera but I did use it in the New Zealand fjords and came away with some good videos. Don't forget to try time-lapse as you enter or leave port.
Jon
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That's a fantastic film. Thanks for posting it. I have always wanted to go through the Panama Canal and loved seeing the railway 'tugs' in action. When viewed in fast motion, you also get the sense of the ship being raised in each lock as well. I believe that it's being widened (or changed) and the experience in future years may be less dramatic.
Thanks Selbourne. Only goes to show what can be done with cheap look alike action camera. Just £33 on Amazon couple of years ago and using free Microsoft software. My two minute or so video, covered the lock transit which took over two hours.
The new locks are open at the Panama canal but have yet to transit them. It is one of those items on a boys bucket list and I've been lucky enough to have done three full transits and three partial ones.
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I've used a "GoPro" look alike for a couple of years for taking time lapse videos. Attached it to the railings or balcony. This was Oceana going through the Gatun Locks on the Panama Canal last year - taken from the back of the ship.
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Pammy1
I should have added that I had R239 (other side of the ship) back in March this year and had no complaints with that cabin either. It's a location I like on Ventura or Azura (both ships are similar) Hope you enjoy it
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We are in Cabin R246 which cannot be far from where you were so presume that it will be ok we do not go till next May
I'd be more than happy with the location based on my previous cabins in that part of the ship.
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Just looked at the availability on my December cruise on Ventura. Time slots were available from 18:00 onwards in 15 minute intervals for Sindhu and Epicurean on each of the dates I looked at.
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Many thanks for all the replies, as I am a luxury yacht paint manager I may need to take my brushes/paint after looking at the rust spots on the steel balcony in the last photo.
:cool:
Don't tell them that - they'll keep you on board :)
Spirit of Discovery - Comprehensive Cruise Review
in Saga Cruises
Posted
You won't be picking me up unless the Stig from Top Gear is the driver 🙂 . My pick up time is 13:00. It's been a long wait since booking and can't wait to get on board. Just trying to remind myself as to how to take timelapse photos with my cameras.