wripro

The trouble with Oceania and Azamara is that although the public spaces may be lovely and the food and service good unless you book into a suite level you will be in a tiny cabin with a tiny bathroom and a tiny shower. Even on Oceania Marina and Riviera the cabins themselves are small. Only the bathrooms have more square footage. If you want a cabin comparable to an entry level suite on Seabourn or Regent or Silversea you have to book a penthouse and by the time you do that and add all the extras included on the luxury lines you'll pay as much or even more. Th

That's the time to go find a nice bar with a spectacular view, have a drink or two and wait for the crowds to dissipate. A lot of the mass market ships depart Santorini in early afternoon so by three or four it should be much easier.

Please look at "value received" rather than just amount paid when booking a luxury cruise. So many things are included (like tips and alcohol) for which you'd have to pay extra on a premium line.

I simply do not understand why anyone ever does a ship's shore excursion. I can't think of a less interesting way to see any spot on the planet than to get jammed into a bus with forty other people, listen to a guide who recites by rote, and be subjected to the inevitable fellow passenger who keeps the rest of the bus waiting because "I lost track of time." Frequently private tours cost the same or even less when shared and even if they cost more it's worth every penny to have your own car and driver and be able to set your own agenda. And PLEASE no one tell me that if you do a ships excursion and it's late the ship will wait for you. Of the literally hundreds of private excursions I have done never once have I gotten back to the ship late. These guides know how to get you back in time. And when I do get back to the ship it's just me getting on, not a busfull of people. JMO.

Definitely do private tours. Check out TonyAnn Tours. You can choose your own agenda, be in a private vehicle and in Viet Nam the private tours are not that expensive. You can also check to roll call board to see if anyone want stop share the tours. If there's no thread for your cruise start one. Personally, I'll do anything to avoid touring on a bus with forty other people.

Please consider arriving is SA several days or even a week prior (or staying on post cruise.) The best camps are located closer to Johannesburg than Cape Town and I think you'd want visit at least two camps . SA is not close and one doesn't get there often (unless you make it a point to go every two years as I do) so it would be a shame to restrict yourself to a limited safari experience.

On Seabourn you can make your own caviar event whenever and wherever you want.

And I was agreeing with you.

Luxury is relative. When mass market lines offer luxury cruises surely Seabourn becomes ultra luxury.

The only thing to be concerned about is how you feel about what you are wearing. If you like it and feel conformable who cares what others think? The Fashion Police died with Joan Rivers!!!!

Another reason for everyone to mind their own business and stop worrying about what others are wearing. If a Hawaiian shirt is elegant casual to some that's just fine. At Downtown Abbey a tuxedo was considered elegant casual when they used to wear white tie and tails to dinner. Let's never forget Bob Dylan....the times they are a changing!

Whenever you purchase anything from a cruise line, be it a hotel or a transfer, it will be more expensive as you are paying per person and not per room or per car. And they tack on their profit. Check out RomeCabs as has been mentioned here. They are very reliable and very reasonable.

And probably enjoyed every minute!

You're right. I meant the Roll Call Board. Sorry.

There is also the issue of vibration. On Voyager you have to be careful not to book suites in the aft part of the ship. No such worries on the Mariner.