holakat

4 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

This does not happen on flights that I am on - either international or domestic - where you check at the gate?  You wait for your bag at the luggage carousel with everyone else??? 

depends on size of plane and airline.

3 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

 

I understand the convenience of doing a carry-on only.  I still question if that outweighs the need do hand laundry, wear clothes multiple times, or the need to come up with schemes to trick the airline into allowing oversized stuff.   Unless extensive land travel is involved or cost is a big issue, it seems a checked bag is just more convenient all around.  

Personally I like to get to a destination knowing that all my clothing etc have also arrived.  It also saves time standing at luggage carousels, which can be upwards of an hour depending on airport and time of day.  I have a scrubba wash bag to hand wash some laundry.  if you happen to see me over a 3 or 4 week period in the same outfit a few times - oh well I don’t have a problem with that and it’s clean so don’t see the issue, but I also don’t have the need to only wear something once and change clothes 3 times a day.  Sometimes we are asked to check bag at the gate, but at least then it is gate checked and waiting when I deplane.  To each his own.  

On 9/9/2023 at 5:19 AM, CDNPolar said:

I think that the most important item that I would stress is sunglasses.  You will be snow blind in minutes, even in cloudy days.  We each had two pairs of sunglasses just in case we lost or broke a pair.

Thanks for the reminder.

9 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

If you are going Hurtigruten, then I know that your excursions will be to a certain extent demanding.  We found that we worked up a sweat every time we got onto the Continent... being warm was not a problem - being too warm was.

 

But, everyone has different temperature tolerances, and being warm is a necessity for a trip like this, so I would say be prepared with super warm gloves/mittens and also a light pair.

Yes we will be on Roald Amundsen.  Lots of light layers and windproof pants are already in the to be packed pile.  Will be a challenge - 6 weeks of cruising (doing 4 on HAL around SA) and only hand luggage.  Hope all is well with your hand luggage challenge.  Cheers

1 minute ago, CDNPolar said:

Fellow Ontarian - we found that gloves were in a lot of cases not necessary.  The temps were between -5C and +5C and most of the time hovering around zero.  We had brilliant sunshine with no wind, so often our gloves were just off because it was not that cold on the fingers - and I do generally feel the cold.

 

In general we had too much clothing and the first day we grossly overdressed, and we shed layers day by day...

 

In my opinion, waterproof gloves / mittens are not necessary, but water repellent yes.

Also, Mittens will be warmer for your Husband as gloves will allow the fingers to chill faster.

 

I used a pair of $10.00 gloves/mittens from Winners that the finger section folded back on for picture taking, or when wearing my mittens, they clipped together so would just clip them to my coat when not wearing.

 

I think that the only day that I actually wore the mittens the full time was when we went snowshoeing because it was actually snowing that day and a bit windy.

Thanks CDNPolar.  We did find that when we were on our first Antarctic cruise it was quite warm, although fellow cruisers from US were shivering!  I just wondered if it would be a lot colder on land.  But of course it is a nice dry cold!  Off to Costco I go...cheers and thanks for the input.

Looking for warm waterproof gloves.  If anyone has used one trips in and out of zodiac etc., would love to hear your suggestions.  Husband gets cold fingers fast so likely use with hand warmer.  I need some that I can fold back finger to use with DSLR camera.  

Can anyone who has been on Antarctia Falklands Islands cruise weigh in on this.  We have 3 days Falklands.  Assuming 1st day Stanley and other two days other areas of Falklands.  

We arrive Christmas Day and I have a tour operator who is willing to do a wildlife tour that day.

In your experience what times were you tendered in Stanley?

The tour operator knows that is it a crap shoot as we may or may not be able to tender, so that isn't an issue.  Just trying to work out if we can get a tour put together.

Thanks

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

 

This might be really sneaky, but, what I have thought of for an upcoming trip with an airline that is extremely strict on carry on, is for each of us to check in separately with only the fully compliant carry on with us while the other stands off to the side with the back pack?  The back pack would be compliant in size and measurements for a personal item - which they don't specify a weight for.

What I am concerned with is if they ever ask for the back pack (personal item) to be weighed and it is heavier than the carry on bag what would they do?

 

Again, they don't specify a weight limit for the personal item - but I could overweight that bag easily as the carry on weight allowance is only 15lbs.

That could work, and the worst they will do is charge you to check the carry on at the gate.  

CdnPolar - thanks for the review and info.  We are booked on Rolad Amundsen Dec 14-Dec 29 this year.   This question will only apply if you had Falklands with your itinerary.

What are you thoughts on Falkland Islands private tour out of Stanley.  How long were you anchored there?

On 9/6/2023 at 5:56 AM, CDNPolar said:

For carry on only, I pack "non-memorable" but fashionable shirts and I have one style with 8 colours.  You might think that I wore that colour before and you might be right, but I don't care anyway.  These also wash, ring out and dry in 4 hours in the bathroom.  We travel only non-formal ships, and if we ever do go on a ship with a formal night we will eat at the buffet that night.

 

The problem with an upcoming trip that I am most definitely going carry on is that this is on EVA Air and they are apparently very strict with both the exact measurements of your carry on but also the weight.  They apparently weigh all carry on bags at the ticket counter and they can be a max of 15lbs or 7kg.  If over then they force it to be checked.  

 

My lightest carry on bag is already 6lbs empty.  That means only 9lbs of clothing and other stuff.

 

Now, you can have one personal item, that again, they are strict with size, but their site does not state a weight limit for this item...  I wonder if I can get away with more weight in the personal item as long as it conforms to the measurements?

 

I read many comments of people boarding aircraft with overstuffed carry on bags and I watch them as they fail at stuffing them into the overhead.  I also watch people that have multiple bags - not just the carry on and personal item - and they get through, but then I get picked out of line and told that I need to check my carry on.

 

There is no reason to the rules right now and you can randomly get through or randomly get stopped.

 

More and more I am seeing non-American and non-Canadian airlines however taking a firm stand on carry on size and weight.

Hi CdnPolar. My husband and I do the same thing. We have travelled for 6 weeks, hand luggage only.  Too bad if you see the same outfit 10 times in 6 weeks...one pair of hiking shoes wear on the plane and comfortable crocs, although not fashionable, for the ship. 

If weight is the biggest issue, you could put heavier items in your knapsack, then once through "screening" while you check in and they tag your bag okay for cabin, when you get to gate area, do a swap around and repack.  We have done this before with success.

I spoke with Celebrity. They have the menus of each restaurant offering for the Alcove Picnic Meals. The cost of the meals range from $50 - $75 depending on which restaurant you get your meal from. And I was told that it also includes a bottle of wine.

So we are interested in Alcoves. Have booked the full day on September 11th with some friends. We also would like to do the 1/2 days on September 5 and September 6, so the morning 9am - 3pm, (the 4 of us are early risers so early to bed as well) then the 3pm - 9pm slot would be open for those who enjoy sleeping in and more of the early evening.

Currently you can't book 1/2 days - Celebrity should change that I wouldn't care if they upped the price a bit for a half day....they would then make more money for the full day. I am guess they will figure that out eventually.

Anyone interested in splitting September 5, September 6 and if need be September 11th as well?

The meals that you can get from the Bistro, Tuscan Grill and the Blu seem great and include a bottle of wine. Also apparently the Lawn Club Grill is also an option for lunch some of the sea days.

Cheers

We like to travel light, hand luggage only.

When on cruises before we had a laundry credit, I would take laundry off the ship with me, find a laundry mat and do laundry while enjoying lunch in a new city.

Does anyone have any laundry spots along the way for the itinerary with Grand Circle Holland to Belgium springtime.

thanks

So we are seasoned Celebrity cruisers and now decided to try a riverboat cruise.

We are on Grand Circle - Holland March 21 2015. Our Post trip is Bruges for 3 nights. Bruges looks great but just checking to see if there is that much to do for 3 days. Any input from anyone?

Thanks