NJ Cruiserman

Attached itin from SS Website

Constanta is also a pit. I can't imagine spending an overnight there. Do NOT leave the ship in the evening. Rarely do I feel like a target for thieves, but this one place that I felt truly unsafe. This was also the general feeling of most passengers on the Seabourn cruise I took. Be careful!

Concerning drinks at the talks-everyone on our sailing stopped by the piano bar on the way down so we had plenty of drinks-some had the waiters bring them diwn

 

 

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Glad you had a great time and looking forward to more details - but hope you have a chance to get some rest these next few days. Was Juan Carlos a geologist with the last name Restrepo, perchance? He was with us in Svalbard a few years ago - was great.

Happy cruising!

On the 15 Feb sailing, a number of us began to have significant stomach problems the last morning- as we were trying to leave. There was a line at the little clinic onboard- probably six people or so. I immediately began cipro since I was going to be flying to Panama several hours later and it was pretty clear that this was not going to be a passing/minor attack. We had not been on any prior tours in common with anyone else. We had had two people who took to their cabins for a day or two a bit earlier in the week and a couple who were trying a course of pepto bismol before hitting the cipro. We had eaten nothing ashore during the cruise so we pretty much definately got whatever it was onboard. Bring your cipro and pepto bismol and use it sooner than later.

However the guides and excursions were wonderful and the zodiac drivers expert. I find dkepcruiser's review above almost spot on, but I would not have rated the food as favorably. Also, cold drinks should have been available at the nightly 7 PM briefings. One of the couples traveling with us was in 334 like dkepcruiser's family, and the butler never offered to store their luggage and they never thought to ask.

After you unpack, just ask your butler to store your bags. He took them and returned them the following Friday before dinner.

There are some pictures and dimensions of the Galapagos Explorer II here http://www.galapagosexplorer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1275&Itemid=818&lang=en

 

The cabin's have not been changed a lot best I know- updated some and the bathrooms changed but this should give you some idea.

Hi uttleyj,

 

The menus sound yummy! Actually my wife and I are taking the same cruise next summer (July 2012) with our friends. We are going from Stockholm to Southampton so are wondering if you would post a review of the cruise. We are so excited about it! We were on two cruises with Regent (Radisson) and decided to go with Silversea this time. Thanks

Although our menus were different from those above, the wine selection offered was the same. They are fairly low end wines, and I asked for and was served better complementary wines including a nice Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and Conundrum which is a nice California white blend. Silversea is trying to cut back on the wines, as last year Conundrum was poured as the main white wine offered in the Restaurant one evening.

THANKS for the nice comments on the pictures and postings!

 

For NJ Cruiserman, I sent some added info on our guide in St. Petersburg. It was through Anastasia in late July 2008. She merged her firm with another and might be operating separating these days. Not totally sure on her current status. I'm a real believer on having a personal, custom tour for St. Petersburg. Why? A personal guide is best and ideal, especially if you can have pre-tour communications and establish that "connection" for what you need and seek to fit your travel style and personal interests. We love having a "CONVERSATION" with our guide. I like to ask lots of questions. Take many pictures. Those factors make all of the positive difference to enjoy and experience things in the best manner. I like to learn the history, how real life works there, the current events, etc. A personal, custom guide/tour is much better than being "forced marched" through a great museum or place in a group of 25-35 people with a guide barking out details to us as we walk quickly by these great treasures. Also, in a large group, it can be hard to hear and understand everything that is being shared, asked. But, personal tours/guides are not always possible, affordable, needed, etc., for all port stops.

 

 

For duct tape, YES, I'm surprised that there's still interest in this posting. Thanks to many of the pre-cruise great tips and suggestions, plus your presence on our cruise, it helped make this an even better "great adventure". Those checking it out might be continuing as many are now planning and preparing for their 2011 and 2012 Norway coast trips.

 

 

Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

It will be more difficult in this trip as we don't know anyone going, although we have met up with another couple through roll call here.

As to your surprise that there is continuing interest in this thread -- you linked to it from a thread on the real story about St. Petersburg tour companies, so anyone interested in the facts as opposed to the reviews may land on this thread.

Terry, as usual your pictures are fabulous and give me a taste of things to look forward to. I've looked at most of your posts, but haven't yet figured out what guide you used in St. Petersburg. There are lots of tour companies, but many favorable reviews are by people with one Tripadvisor post, which is quite suspicious as they must have gone to at least one other port on their cruise. There was even a period of time about two years ago when we were first contemplating St. Petersburg as a destination when all of the reviews for A tour company said similarly that they met and exceeded the posters expectations. As a precaution I booked the tours offered by the Whisper but am looking for something more personal. Are you willing to share with slutzkym at hotmail dot com?