mort&fran

Pet Nit Noy - Thank you so much for that info! We'll be sailing on the Nautica, so it's great to have first-hand input.

This will be my first trip since I started using a CPAP. Was told that the CPAP machine does not count as a piece of luggage when flying, but do you know if it can be a checked piece for no charge?

Thanks for posting the info Lilybob; we have another 3 months before we depart, so your response was still timely.

Besides Robben Island and the Maylay Quarter, do any sites or experiences in Cape Town stick out in your mind?

A South African ex-pat we know highly recommended Hylton Ross's Cape Town tours, but has no first-hand knowledge of their operations elsewhere.

Because we're on the CPT to CPT cruuse we actually had to pay for the add on. We got it when it was only an additional $99 pp. We chose it primarily because it included two nights hotel and many meals plus a snippet of the sights so it's good value for money spent. Unfortunately there was no additional offer of $500 credit pp if we didn't take it. Regarding the Oceania air, we took the credit for that rather than utilizing their air program.

Ditto for us - on all counts. O's literature candidly admits that the "safari" is a drive into an animal preserve with no guarantee of any animal sightings. But for us it was a no-brainer for the price. [And the hotel gets high ratings on Trip Advisor.]

The credit for not using their air program is $1200 pp. Because this will likely be our only trip to that part of the world we may extend our stay. For the moment at least, I have found fares less than $1200 for what we are contemplating.

As everyone has said (or at least implied), you have to consider your personal situation, and evaluate the different companies and coverages in that light. But don't just consider you and your travelling companion.

We bought travel insurance for our first cruise, simply through naivete, and didn't use it. So we saved bunches of money by not buying on subsequent cruises and vacations. But my mother-in-law was very sick a few years ago so we decided to get the insurance for our South America cruise in case we had to rush home for her. We didn't have to, but I had a heart attack off the southern coast of Argentina. (Long story involving two hospitalizations and surgery in Argentina, business-class airfares for my wife and me, protracted stay because a volcano in Chile disrupted air travel in Argentina...) The insurance covered just about everything; medicals alone were more than $30,000.

So we've purchased the insurance on every cruise since. Because of my heart attack history. Didn't need it for that, but did when my wife unexpectedly needed surgery and we had to cancel another cruise.

Got2Cruise, you beat me to it. No need to pay a third party fee for something that you can get at cost. The official site is selling a 2-day pass for €122 and the 4-day for €163.80. That includes travel cards, which IMO are way overpriced, because the travel cards they sell you cover zones 1-3 which is more than you need. My advice is to get the cheaper museum pass, which just covers entry fees. Then buy a mobilus ticket for zones 1-2, about €7 per day, if you need the Métro. Should work out cheaper, but check prices and see if it works out for you.

We have found hop on/hop off buses to often be a great value when we have visited new cities, when we don't know our way around and generally have only a basic idea of what we want to see. The Paris ho-ho is advertising a one-day pass @ $78.21 and two-day @ $83.65 - both of which include a 2-day museum pass (we do enjoy museums). Any opinions as to how that compares?

The Translink web site indicates there is a reduced fare for seniors, but I cannot find it. Any idea what the senior fare is (Canada Line, YVR to City Centre)? We will be arriving ca. 3 PM on a weekday.

ThanX!

... and how, for someone who is Internet-illiterate, do you find a person's blog?

Thanks for sharing, AIP

I second that.

We will be visiting the usual cruiseline stops on our upcoming first trip to Alaska. Your posts are giving us an indication of what we will be missing - and alternatives for future cruises.

Thanks for the insightful review. I'm always amazed - pleasantly - when someone packs valuable info into few words.

As I had to travel for work I learned that our country alone has more interesting places to visit and beautiful vistas than can possibly be visited in a single lifetime. So I 'vote' with my feet and wallet, occasionally 'supporting' less popular locales and shunning some favorably-perceived locales. If enough of us opt to forego cruises that visit a country's ports - for whatever reason - that would be an economic incentive (disincentive?) for cruise lines. There are so many places I would like to see, including St. Petersburg and the Crimea, but them not now.

Thanks for your comprehensive review. We will be on the Statendam later this summer; appreciate your giving us an insight into what we will likely experience.

I write 'LARGE pot' of coffee, and with only one exception, if I recall correctly, we have received either a large carafe or 2 of the smaller carafes.

I also tip $1 or $2. Breakfast on our balcony has been a happy memory of many cruises.

We are scheduled to arrive YVR that Monday (8/4) afternoon, and were planning to ferry over to Victoria (won't have a car) Wednesday or Thursday. Am I correct that things will be calmer then?

Also, is is possible (reasonable?) to visit both Victoria and Buchart Gardens in one day?

Great pictures. And your commentaries are providing very useful info for our forthcoming cruise. Thank you!

Let me echo everyone's thanks for your VERY informative and useful posts. While I have to also second RuthC's request, your observations and suggestions were certainly worth the effort.

Appreciate your commentaries and photos; can't wait for future installments.

Congratulations on hitting 20K! (I know it's only half of your target number, but it's still a major milestone. And your pictures are fantastic.)

Love your attitude! (And the reviews ain't bad, too.)

Happy Anniversary! And thanks for the very informamative review.

...

Enjoy, and please comment!

4k views since I last posted and not a single comment lol.

OK. I'm one of the lurkers who has been soaking up your offerings without posting a comment :o, just waiting open-mouthed for more. Your reports and photos for this Alaska journey have been great! Keep it up for future cruises (and hopefully you will have posted similarly for when we plan our next cruise).

In our experience, HAL provides a public room where a passenger-led service can be held. They may do so based on interest, so go to the main desk at the beginning of your cruise to let them know.

That was also our experience. The lack of knowledge you found when you called HAL you will also sometimes encounter on-board, so I also suggest that you confirm with the main desk that they will include info re services in the daily program.

As everyone has said, reservations are not needed for the (stage) shows. The same holds true for the other venues on board, which you should check out. We have been on a number of cruises where some of the lounge offerings were at least as enjoyable as the shows.

Ah. Not mentioning our being on a cruise is a good suggestion - when I called (and did mention that we will be on a cruise) I was told to contact HAL as they provide the shuttle service.

HAL said the shuttle fare is $15 pp, so if the taxi fare is in the $20 range that would be great.

Looking at HAL's cruise schedules, you can't even cobble together your own journey from Florida to Vancouver, at least on HAL. Their cruises from Florida only go as far as Buenos Aires, while the South America circumnavigation cruises start in Rio (more than 1,000 miles farther south). Crystal and Regent both have cruises between BA and Rio, however I did not see where either of them has the complete itinerary you seek.