gogo65

And if we tell you too, we can isolate you as a close contact or make you wear a mask..….so don’t turn around and say I didn’t know!!

Interestingly we were sent an additional document this week ‘PONANT’s Health Protection Measures Statement of Guest Acknowledgement’ that we have to sign. So we now have the health declaration, medical clearance form (self completed for ?expeditions only) and this new form acknowledging we’ve read their guidelines. I wonder if they’ve had people boarding not happy with the new formalities?? PONANT’s Health Protection Measures Statement of Guest Acknowledgement PONANT has combined small capacity ships, eco-design and health protocols to offer responsible travel that promotes sustainable tourism. Thanks to this business model, which is exceptional in the cruise sector, the company is well equipped to roll out protocols rigorously, quickly, and efficiently. Over many years, the company has also invested in state-of-the-art medical facilities on board its ships (ultrasound and radiography equipment, testing on site, resuscitation equipment and more) that go well beyond what current standards for tourism require. A medical team comprising of at least one doctor and a nurse are available 24/7. In case of an alert, should anyone on board show symptoms of contagion to Covid-19, they will be immediately treated by PONANT’s medical team, and a specific protocol will apply including immediate search and isolation of contact cases and disinfection of potentially infected areas. Your safety is one of our primary concerns. As the rules and regulations change and evolve, PONANT is continuing to adapt and optimize its already robust protocol integrating all the technological, human and material measures to ensure your safety on board. The risk of exposure to Covid-19 will occur with any form of travel. PONANT’s health and safety measures aim to reduce the risk of exposure and we ask all guests comply with our protocols for the health and safety of all on board. Review PONANT’s comprehensive health and safety measures here: https://au.ponant.com/sail-with-confidence OR scan this QR code: I acknowledge that I have read PONANT’s health and safety measures and look forward to my cruise. PLEASE HAND THIS IN AT EMBARKATION Guest Name:..................................................................... Guest Cabin #:.................................................................. Guest Signature:.............................................................. Date:...................................................................................

Interesting, I haven’t sailed princess (ever) or P&O for a long time. Celebrity and RCI don’t charge fees and neither do Ponant and Silversea. Maybe it’s a question to ask both the cruise line and agent prior to booking. If it’s important to you. I’m a frequent flyer point collector, so every point has a value, and every transaction is based on that value. To many that is not important and happily pay by direct debit to minimize fees but for others, including myself, I choose services (including TA’s) based on credit card fees. Hence having/finding two excellent TA’s that don’t charge fees.

I would never book through the TA you mentioned. If it’s a normal cruise then I generally book direct but if it’s an expensive cruise (over $20k) I check out two TA’s and see what they can give me. Generally I can get 5% off. I refuse to book through a TA if they charge a credit card fee as the cruise lines do not charge them.

Hi swift, I’ve sent you an email 🙂

We had one bag in Sydney for a while and then both at opposite ends of the terminal in Abu Dhabi, surprisingly they came out one after the other in London!

Do you have apple air tags? We arrived in London on Saturday. Was fascinating watching our luggage move about the airport. Was very excited to see our bags on the carousel! We crossed pack and had additional clothes in our carry on just in case. Still have to fly from Edinburgh to Tromso which will be the biggest worry about lost luggage (lots of thermals and warm things). Then the pre boarding test to add to the stress…

I think you need to decide on budget and then go from there. You are similar age to us, and for the main stream lines I prefer celebrity, it has a slightly older vibe to Royal caribbean, beautiful ships, a singer in a bar playing a bit of jazz, no rock climbing walls or water slides, a quite place to read a book, in saying that I enjoy Royal caribbean as well it’s just louder with lots more kids. I haven’t been on Princess but would definitely try them. I don’t like carnival at all (dark, gloomy ships) and I’d do a P&O again for a specific itinerary (Papua New Guinea) There is also the more luxury lines Silversea, Oceania, Viking, azamara to name a few, much smaller ships, less activities but higher level of service. For a first cruise I don’t think you can go wrong with a pacific islands or NZ cruise. I would do a local cruise first and then if you enjoy them look further afield such as Europe, US or Asia. I loved my first European cruise waking up in a different country each day without unpacking/packing, a good taster to where you may want to go back and do a more in-depth holiday. Good luck deciding there are a lot of helpful people here with so much knowledge, so ask away 😊

Thanks JP, My son moved to London in March, so spending 10 days with him to start with, is really building the excitement. We normally travel a lot, while it was nice to do more local holidays, I’ve missed those 24 hour flights 🤣

Thanks, Our vaccine cards are electronic, will get the covid results electronically (not sure we will have access to a printer in Tromso), and other than that have printed off the medical form (for expedition) and health declaration. Less than 48 hours until we are on our way! Now to finish packing, hair and pedicure tomorrow, stay covid free and we will be on our way. It’s very surreal finally having the opportunity to travel after 2.5 years.

HI @AussieBoyTX, Just a few questions if you don't mind..I’d message you but cant 😂 We received our 120 page booklet etc via email, and I’m just wondering exactly what we need to board. We have a medical form and health declaration, which we will complete and take with us. We also have cruise tickets and activity vouchers (transfers and flights post cruise), but assume they aren’t required? Last time we cruise with Ponant everything was printed and delivered, however everything is now electronic and I really dont want to print if not necessary. Thanks 🙂

I do a bit of both, Ive currently got a RCI transpacific booked myself, and generally standard cruises I book myself unless the TA can give a significant discount or a special like $1 deposits. I have a good TA that doesn’t charge any fees (particularly credit card fees), but also not happy to handover control with price drops etc. However for our expedition cruises we’ve booked them all through a TA, as they are able to give a significant discount ($3-$4k), in which case I’m more than happy to hand the booking over. I always ensure there is no credit card fees or change/cancellation fees (particularly after hearing crazy stories about Covid cancellations), but there are no price drops as such, so them owning the booking doesn’t really impact us.

Yes thats why we picked it, only the one transport cost, hotel to port the next morning. We are flying business class to Brisbane so will be fed on the plane, just need a light breakfast before heading to the port the next day.

We booked the ibis Brisbane airport hotel, which I believe is different to the one that @jeanc went to. we arrive at 8pm looked at the Pullman and Novotel but to be honest we thought for one night the ibis will be fine.

Thanks we will!

I may see some value in a like for like cruise with a cost difference of $1000-$2000 to have a full English speaking cruise, but that would be my limit. While having bilingual talks does become a bit of a pain, it certainly doesn’t really impact our enjoyment. Will be interesting to hear what @AussieGirlTX thinks.

Great trip report as usual. In hindsight do you think the Smithsonian journeys charter is worth the additional dollars? In comparison on our upcoming Northwest passage, A&K have charted Le Austral, to do a similar trip (although only 21 days to our 29 days), leaving the week before, the cost difference is close to $20k per person.That's a lot of money to have a full English speaking cruise plus their experts, personally not worth it to us, but obviously worth it to those that booked.

We have friends in Europe, they had two cruises planned, the first was an NCL cruise to the Greek islands they tested at the port and he was positive. They did not have to isolate instead they found a nice hotel room, with a private pool and laid low for a week, they then flew from Athens to board a RCI cruise to Norway. She said she was so worried she would turn positive and they wouldn’t be allowed on that cruise as well, luckily they both tested negative and are having a great time. We fly out on Friday, 2 weeks in the UK before jumping on the ship on Tromso Norway, as I’ve only just recovered from Covid I’m pretty certain i will be fine, but keeping DH negative may be challenging. This is a bloody expensive cruise I really don’t even want to think about DH testing positive, it certainly takes away some of the excitement..

OMG I also hit the jackpot with a $8.15 win, still deciding how to spend it… It might pay for half a glass of wine on my upcoming holiday 🤣

Wow another one! Lucky you. look forward to following along 🙂

We had similar with Covid special leave as a close contact, many people took a week or two off, saying they were a close contact, (like they’d been at a friends house etc) but no evidence required. now if you say your a close contact you can come to work, need to wear an N95 for two weeks and can’t eat with anyone or go to any afternoon teas etc, funny how no one seems to be a close contact now!

Absolutely, no need for a PCR at all, in fact not recommended for at least 28days post infection.

Ahh ok, didn’t realise it was different in OZ. I’ve removed my comment about the certificate of recovery from my original post.

I’ve worked in the Covid world as an RN, it is highly unlikely you will test positive on a RAT three weeks later, most have a negative RAT within 10 days, however immunocompromised people may find they test positive longer. You may still test positive on PCR (with a very low viral load) but you won’t require a PCR only RAT.

It’s definitely one of the best sailaways in the world but I wouldn’t spend thousands more to sail from there (but we live in Sydney). But if it’s same/similar price would definitely prefer to sail from Sydney.