wombat13

How wonderful congratulations Deb & Bob [emoji847]

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I am in Australia and book in the US. US is a far bigger market and can offer more deals & flexibility. But be warned the downside is the exchange rate currently $.7073 with talk of it going down to $.65 - .60. Always a risk have to take the good with the bad.

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hello, all!

 

anyone else here in the group sailing on the Celebrity Solstice October 29 - Nov 8 Australia cruise? I'm with a group of 24!

Enjoy your cruise

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Have a great trip Mic & Rosie

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I am a Australian and book in US. Reason on the plus side it gives me flexibility minus is the exchange rate. Most times even with the exchange rate it is still cheaper to book in US. If not I transfer booking to something else in the future. Obviously this has to happen before final payment and any flight bookings.

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Thanks so much.

 

We were not familiar with this website, so now I have more homework cut out for me :)

(That's good, because I also love the planning.)

 

We didn't get back last fall as planned, alas, but we had an amazing trip to Norway. We took the Hurtigruten RT Coastal cruise in March, with an astronomy package, and we did have the good fortune to see some amazing Northern Lights, which was the primary goal. But it is so beautiful there, and we loved Hurtigruten so much more than we expected (we weren't sure... given the "ferry" aspect, but it was terrific in every way), that we now have another trip to the area to add to our growing list.

 

Um, I thought the list was supposed to get shorter, as we checked off some of the "must see some day" places :D

Instead, we seem to keep adding, and only a few places end up with a "been there/done that" check-off.

 

But that return trip to Japan is still "on", just delayed, so the timing of your link is really helpful.

In addition to the business meetings, we'll be wanting to spend considerable extra time, given the time it takes to get there, and also the recovery time.

(The "recovery" after arrival caught us totally by surprise. I had scheduled a full "rest" day, and only half day tour the next day, and we slept around the clock, except for 2 light meals, for more than 24 hours. Did not expect that! We'd never traveled that far, in distance or in time zones, before. But "now we know"...)

 

It will be tricky, deciding among places we'd like to see "more of", and places we haven't yet been.

 

GC

Yes I will definately get back to you later on Hurtigruten. Interesting you mentioned the ferry aspect of it because I was weighing that up as well. Got an alert set for sale on winter gear...lol

Anyway to get back to Japan this site is more slanted for Australians but I think is still very useful to others as well. I had a lot of help with my itinerary from a friend on CC and this Japan forum. If you would like I can send my itinerary I did for both trips to give you some ideas. Some sites I visited others I ran out of time on. It was more of a guide so I would always have something I could do in the area and how to go about it. My first trip was a real adventure my 2nd trip was also good but I think I tried to do too much. We got really tired on the 4th week. Next time....and yes there will be at least another couple of times. I will take some more time out to just do nothing, people watch, chat to locals etc. As a Australian I can fully understand the long haul flights as we have to do them to get anywhere from here, Japan being the exception to the rule only 9hrs.

If you have questions happy to try and answer them for you.

jean_warren at westnet dot com dot au

Cheers

Jean

What's wrong with high floors.

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We have just returned from THE most amazing trip of our lives :D

We spent 2+ weeks in Japan, and then a few days in Hong Kong.

 

We LOVED Japan (even though we have a lot of work to do, language-wise!)

 

DH has been able to arrange a trip to Japan again in a few months, so we are thrilled to be able to return reasonably soon.

 

Are there any recommendations for a hotel in the Ginza area (or other area suggestions), where there are at least some rooms that are NOT on "high floors"?

That probably means nothing above approximately Floor 20 or such.

 

We stayed at a great hotel last month, but it didn't have a "central" location.

We didn't mind taking taxis, but that's not the same as "walking out the door to things and activity nearby".

 

We had a few great tours, and will be working with the same guide a few times, but we'd like to be better able to explore on our own for short outings.

(I have slight mobility difficulties, and can't always walk for long distances as when I was younger. So being more in the thick of things would probably be nice.)

 

(Semi-lux category, probably, such as 4 star. But not looking for anything like the Mandarin Oriental in terms of price...!)

 

Many thanks.

We love Japan. Our 1st trip we had 3 weeks last year and loved it so much had 4 weeks again this May. Just used the Japan rail passes to get around. In Tokyo we stayed in Ueno but it is budget accom 2-3*. We really liked the area and stayed at same hotel for both trips. But I think you are looking for something more upmarket. Here is a link to a great site with lots of info on Japan.

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/japantravelfaq

Cheers

Jean

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This article has just been published.

https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/allianz-admits-to-misleading-travel-insurance-20180917-p504b8.html

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I have it in writing twice! I rung again on Saturday before I booked a small cruise, all covered. Don’t worry I had thought of this![emoji33][emoji33][emoji33].

Hopefully won’t have to use it! I am starting to think our cruising/overseas days could be coming to an end though. They sure don’t like that 70 number, and got forbid you get any older than that!

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We also were knocked back by Allianz for Hawaii in April, but also QBE would cover us. Strange that now Allianz now will cover us for Japan and a small South Pacific cruise for $45 each. I was most upset that my husbands problem was 21years ago but I was told it will be held for life.

I

I hope someone in Allianz hasn't made a mistake but if you have it in writing from them with included PE you should be ok.......

Any suggestion for good travel insurance from USA. We are planning a transpacific cruise for end of 2019. We did book it some months ago. I forgot about travel insurance when we booked the cruise

We used Covermore last time we went to the states. There are a lot of Travel Ins companies out there. If you qualify for Complimentary Travel Ins with your credit card that is the cheapest way. But as this thread topic is about, getting difficult if you have a pre existing condition that is not on the Travel Ins company Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). All sound good until god forbid you have to make a claim. Research well.

Also whatever policy you end up getting make sure it covers "Medical evacuation from ship"

Forgot to add it was excluding US. So that is the reason a bit cheaper.

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We used InsureandGo for Hawaii. I obtained a yearly price last week from Insure and go and it as $2300 for both of us and $950for one trip. In March it was $680 for Hawaii for both of us, so I was shocked this time.

Who knows, next time Allianz might so no!

Unfortunately as we get older, it is something we must have and I said to my husband, if we can’t afford the travel insurance, we can’t afford the trip. I was just lucky this time!

Ours was $692 then changed to Annual $874.

This was cover for both of us including PE for partner. (45 day)

Hope everyone gets lucky with their TI.

Jean

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Thanks Cheryl

Have Insure & go policy atm managed to change it to a annual multi so ok at the minute. But will definitely try again in the future.

My partner has only one PE but it is to do with the heart not that he has needed any treatment or drugs or further investigation. But it is now on the books. But unfortunately insurance companies only hear the word heart and go weak at the knees so to speak...lol

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Hi Cheryle, Did you do al this online or contact them by phone?

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I too called Allianz re our CC insurance. First phone call would cover myself and not my husband. Then called Insure and Go and there policy was almost double what they insured my husband for I for in April for Hawaii.

Third phone call, almost as expensive was NRMA.

The next day rang Allianz again and the charge for my was $45,which I was happy with, but the great news was that they would now cover my husband for $45 with his pre existing. Their original ideas was to give him a $900policy thru Westpac, but 45minutes later and after two more assessments I now have a policy for both of us, covering pre existing for $90. I have it in writing with all our pre existing covered. Hope I don’t need it, but happy eventually with the outcome.

Back in April for Hawaii, Allianz wouldn’t cover either of us!

We do have to apply each time we travel though.

I am greatful for this thread as Westpac used to use QBE we we had used and made a claim with out an issue and I would not have know if I hadn’t read it here.

Anyway at the moment, we are quite happy! Cheryle

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If you have an Aldi, look out for their cold weather clothing. Good value and it works.

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Cruises by Ponant's Boreal and Soleal and Hurtigruten's Fram are having to choose different routes because the North West Passage is currently blocked by ice.

 

Passengers on MS Fram due to depart on 10th September, on Eastbound Northwest Passage cruise, are having to fly, on a tiny plane, to Pond Inlet Airport (YIO), Nunavut, Canada in lieu of Cambridge Bay as originally scheduled. Their proposed cruise route is a work in progress. This will be true Explorer Cruising.

 

I have been following the ice conditions, because my cruise on MS Fram departs Kangerlussuq, Greenland on 22/9, after this cruise.

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We did the Coastal RT in early/mid March earlier this year, and there was still plenty of snow, which made for *gorgeous* scenery, and there was plenty of daylight for viewing.

 

We also had assumed that crampons would be necessary. Although we weren't doing any "deep outside" excursions, we had read about people putting crampons on just to leave the ship.

We've got a great "outdoor/camping supply store" called REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) that's been around since my grad school days back in Seattle in the '70's.

They have a good return policy. So we got some "lightweight" crampons (warning: some of the "serious" crampons look like torture devices from the middle ages; and my brother used to go mountain climbing and he needed serious equipment like that). We brought them along in their boxes, and because these folded up and were elastic based, they didn't take up much room.

And... we never came close to needing them, so we just returned them when we got back.

 

We did have good "treads" on our boots, and that was all that was needed, at least for our limited outings. Perhaps we were lucky? The snow everywhere was packed down and not icy where we walked most, which was in Tromso and Kirkenes. In Bergen, there was no snow downtown, not this past March, anyway.

 

We are considering doing the RT again, in the summer. We'd like to see the same scenery in a different season, and we also haven't (yet) experienced the 24 hour daylight.

 

Hallasm has elsewhere posted a terrific photo of his wife on one of the ships taken "at night" (1am, I think), and it shows the sun blazing in the sky :)

He's got some great videos posted.

And if you haven't yet looked at SarniaLo's blog (link in her signature here on CC), do spend a bit of time there, too.

 

But the cold *was* BRUTAL on the ship's deck at night, while sailing in the dark night, due to the wind.

So at least a serious windbreaker (wind/rain shell jacket and pants, plus layers underneath) for that. We already had those from an Alaska cruise, where the forecast was for nonstop rain.... but we had non-stop sunshine, and only needed those for one serious excursion on the water.

 

But if you are doing excursions out of towns, you should double check what is needed for those specifically.

 

GC

Thanks GeezerCouple,

Looking at 2020 atm as we have a big trip planned for next year. I have seen some videos from Hallasm that really gives you an idea of what to expect. Will check out SarniaLo's blog too. I don't have any real cold weather clothes as not needed where I live. So between now and then I will keep a look out for boots, jacket & pants. As mmdownunder said to check the op shops. Thanks if I have any questions I will get back to you.

Cheers Jean

We went in May, which was at the beginning of the Season in Spring. September being Autumn should be good at end of Season. Mild weather conditions.

 

We didn't use crampons in Antarctica. I only saw them used once in the Grand Canyon on icy paths in to the Valley.

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I book direct with Hurtigruten in Norway because I have cruised with them before. They give you a credit as a repeat guest. However, there is an Australian Agent.

 

Being from the tropics I love cold weather clothes. I find if you have a warm close fitting felt hat, gloves, scarf, plus merino layers, you are set. Hurtigruten give you a windproof jacket on their Explorer cruises. If you think you won't wear the clothes again, you can always visit an Op Shop for local bargains suitable for the weather.

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Hi David,

Could you add the following please:

28 Oct 2018 Pacific Jewel PNG 10 Nts

2 Apr 2019 Celebrity Constellation Singapore - Rome 30 Nts (B2B)

Thanks

Getting excited about my cruise from Greenland next month. I have been following bloggers, on Sea Princess World Cruise from Australia, who recently visited two ports in Greenland.

 

Surprised that there is no one else on CC who will be cruising on this cruise from Greenland on MS Fram.

Sorry to hijack your thread. Been looking at Hurtigruten for a while now but then I think about the warm clothing we will have to purchase or can you rent in Bergen perhaps? Also where is the best place to book with Hurtigruten? Noticed a trip in the "Australian" paper today a pkg for polar inside ms Trollfjord $6k incl air fare and 5 night accom.

Your upcoming trip looks great btw.

Hi swimmingpool50 me again.

 

Yes you can access the viewing platform on deck 10 Pacific Jewel. It was about my 3rd cruise on her before I found it. You have to go along the starboard passageway to the front then turn left to the centre The door is unlocked unless the weather is too rough.

 

It was great viewing the NZ fiords from there. Most passengers don't know the viewing platofrm exists. When leaving one of the NZ ports about 10 of us got stuck outside when the handle would turn. We yelled and shouted and tried to raise the alarm looking up at the bridge but it was ages before a crew member found someone who could open the door. We were frozen but it was a laugh. :eek:

I have a inside on deck10 forward Pacific Jewel going to PNG in Oct. First time I have booked a cabin forward and also first for P&O. Usually book mid or aft cabins. Just wondering how much movement you get being forward. I could change booking to GTY and hope for a Mid or Aft. I am not bad with seasickness but usually have ginger with me. Also I have a queen bed atm just afraid I might end up with bunk beds if I go GTY.