the penguins

On 4/12/2024 at 10:13 AM, Tiggipaws said:

Thank you for all your replies. Lots to consider

If you do decide on an Expedition type cruise, and especially if you choose Hurtigruten, we will be happy to send you "Hints and Tips" on how to make the most of your trip including the answer to "Why you need to take 4 metres of elastic cord/string" with you. 

Pre Covid Hurtigruten did presentation evenings especially for the Antarctic - we went to 2 before finally deciding to book - which also may help you.

We can be contacted at: 

geoffanita at hotmail dot com - sorry for the odd way of writing it stops the bots. Enjoy the planning and of course the trip itself. Geoff and the boss (Anita).

16 hours ago, critic2023 said:

I did this itinerary in January of this year. I only saw it offered in January and February with possible spillover a few days into March. Typically, I'd say Celebrity only offers 3-4 of these per year due to weather limits on when it is safe to travel in the region. My cruise was completely sold out and it seems to me that the rest were also sold out or close to it.

 

I have mixed feelings on my experience. I don't regret going, of course - it was the trip of a lifetime and also my first foray into South America. But having seen how it goes on a sail-by cruise, I think I would do an expedition cruise in the future. In fact, I now absolutely plan to do an expedition cruise to Antarctica someday - this trip didn't quite scratch the itch for me, and I feel like there is much more to be seen.

 

My main complaints are not anything I blame the cruise line for, because they are things I knew about well in advance and chose to move forward with anyway. There are a lot of sea days (I like more port intensive cruises, so I knew this would bother me) and we spent a very small amount of time in Antarctica - I think about 1.5 days in total out of a 14 day cruise? Again, I don't blame Celebrity for this. They didn't advertise anything different. But having done it, I now know it's not the way I want to experience the continent. Someday in a few years, I will be splurging on an expedition cruise to do it what I now consider "the right way."

Sums up exactly how we felt and why we went back on an expedition ship. My only advice is don’t leave it too long as you never know what lies ahead. Mobility issues would now make the trip on an expedition ship impossible but as we always said “ if we end up sitting at home in a wheelchair we will do so with memories not regrets”

42 minutes ago, Boatharbour said:

I am talking specifically about Antartica which is perhaps the last frontier that hasn’t yet been spoilt by the impact of tourism. All of your responses are about how it makes you feel and what it does for you. The last time I’ll say it - but in what way does it benefit Antartica for you to step onshore to take your trophy photos and say you’ve visited the continent? 
Can’t we leave at least one place on the planet free from tourism ?? The end. 

we could but you have already said you are going to take the cruise -  which to me is a sort of double standard.

Everyone is free to make up their own choice.

Just now, the penguins said:

this is getting crazy.

Easy to do on the BA site under Customise your booking. Put in the flights first, then add a hotel or car and see how much you can save. The hotel can be anywhere so if you really don't need one look for the very cheapest. As this is a "holiday" you also benefit by only having to pay a deposit not the full amount. If you collect AVIOS you more by booking as a holiday If anything goes wrong you are covered by the ATOL Regulations.

You travel on the same flight, same seats you just pay less.

I

must be a flaw somewhere.

it also works the other way round i.e. USA to UK and back - useful if your first cruise is from UK to USA.

Hope this helps. Geoff and the  boss (Anita).

Just now, the penguins said:

somehow the message sent part way through - to continue - Easy to do on the BA 

this is getting crazy.

Easy to do on the BA site under Customise your booking. Put in the flights first, then add a hotel or car and see how much you can save. The hotel can be anywhere so if you really don't need one look for the very cheapest. As this is a "holiday" you also benefit by only having to pay a deposit not the full amount. If you collect AVIOS you more by booking as a holiday If anything goes wrong you are covered by the ATOL Regulations.

You travel on the same flight, same seats you just pay less.

I

Just now, the penguins said:

sorry had to go out.

Another potential way to save is to book a holiday instead of flights.

Basically to qualify as a holiday you need a return flight and either a minimum of one night hotel or 1 days car rental. If you you plan to stay overnight before the cruise that solves the problem. If not book the cheapest car and simply don't pick it up. Easy to do on the 

somehow the message sent part way through - to continue - Easy to do on the BA 

4 hours ago, the penguins said:

Not as long as you use the outward/first flight- you just become a no show. If you didn’t use the outward the whole ticket would be cancelled. I will send you a tip for a return ticket      later

sorry had to go out.

Another potential way to save is to book a holiday instead of flights.

Basically to qualify as a holiday you need a return flight and either a minimum of one night hotel or 1 days car rental. If you you plan to stay overnight before the cruise that solves the problem. If not book the cheapest car and simply don't pick it up. Easy to do on the 

36 minutes ago, tscoffey said:

A better word for that is “pristine”, I think.

I’m happy with that - which ever it’s unique and never forgotten.

1 minute ago, Tony UK said:

Good idea re the return TA! 

Dont you get penalised if you don't use the return portion? It is all so stupid.....the cost of one way is double, sometimes treble the cost of a round trip!

Not as long as you use the outward/first flight- you just become a no show. If you didn’t use the outward the whole ticket would be cancelled. I will send you a tip for a return ticket      later

14 hours ago, Boatharbour said:

I still ask though - in what ways do these landings benefit the Antarctic environment? There will always be an impact no matter the steps you take to minimise.

I’d rather leave the landings to scientists and minimise the exposure the wildlife has to humans. Do you really, really need to view this unique wildlife in its natural environment?

You and I are always going to disagree on this topic but I think it’s important that another perspective is provided. 

14 hours ago, Boatharbour said:

I still ask though - in what ways do these landings benefit the Antarctic environment? There will always be an impact no matter the steps you take to minimise.

I’d rather leave the landings to scientists and minimise the exposure the wildlife has to humans. Do you really, really need to view this unique wildlife in its natural environment?

You and I are always going to disagree on this topic but I think it’s important that another perspective is provided. 

14 hours ago, Boatharbour said:

I still ask though - in what ways do these landings benefit the Antarctic environment? There will always be an impact no matter the steps you take to minimise.

I’d rather leave the landings to scientists and minimise the exposure the wildlife has to humans. Do you really, really need to view this unique wildlife in its natural environment?

You and I are always going to disagree on this topic but I think it’s important that another perspective is provided. 

I totally agree that it's important to have different view points.

However your solution would wipe out a lot of the world's tourism industry including for example snorkling/diving on the Great Barrier, and all safari's.

Antarctica is unique in that it is protected by an International Treaty/Convention (not one or a group of countries) which tightly controls all aspects of how the area can be accessed/exploited. Almost no tourism visits are permitted on the main land and all commercial exploitation of the mineral/oil/gas reserves are banned. The fees paid by the Cruise Lines helps fund the Convention.

54 minutes ago, Tony UK said:

Planning a transatlantic next spring. We will need flights to Florida one way and then back to the UK from Barcelona. Can anyone doing this type of thing this year give me any insight into flight arrangements?

One way flights are insane prices. We will need to book in the next few weeks, and we will be travelling at Easter so we will probably need to be quick, hence the research! I wonder which airlines Flights by Celebrity use?

Our preference would be Manchester or Liverpool although we can get to London airports also.

Any help much appreciated.

 

our solution which may not help you but works for us is to do 2 TA's a year thus we buy a return air fare which works out cheaper.

Also worth exploring on the BA site is to book a return ticket where you choose say Premium economy out which includes baggage etc but the cheapest return i.e. no bags etc as you wont be using it it doesn't what the dates are. 

The cruise line may also have special one way deals.

7 hours ago, Boatharbour said:

I still ask though - in what ways do these landings benefit the Antarctic environment? There will always be an impact no matter the steps you take to minimise.

I’d rather leave the landings to scientists and minimise the exposure the wildlife has to humans. Do you really, really need to view this unique wildlife in its natural environment?

You and I are always going to disagree on this topic but I think it’s important that another perspective is provided. 

4 hours ago, tscoffey said:

Curious as to what constitutes “authentic experience” when visiting a remote continent where no human civilization has ever existed.

Authentic in as much as, at least for a brief moment, you get to experience what life is like without the assumed benefits of any human "civilization" and where the animals/birds have no fear of man. We know from experience that it  leaves a deep and lasting impression that affects our actions when we travel to other areas that do not have this protection.

1 hour ago, Boatharbour said:

One other perspective to think about. 

Does Antarctica benefit in any way from tourists landing on its pristine environment? We’ve chosen the cruise by option. As my mother used to say “Look, but don’t touch”.

from our experience the lengths the expedition cruise ships go to to protect the environment is extraordinary:

1) during the voyage down all outer clothing that will be worn ashore has to be vacuumed to remove all possible contamination.

2) boots provided to use during the landings are disinfected as you return to the ship and are then dried before the next.

3) All outer clothes are checked before you can reboard and are hosed down as needed.

4) Once on land you are forbidden to put anything on the ground, to pick up or move anything, or to use anything like tissues.

5) you can't approach any animal or interfere/cross any penguin pathway. If animals approach you must stand still and wait for them to pass.

6) Any breaking of the rules will result in an immediate warning and a subsequent breach will result followed in you being banned from future landings.

We agree with your mum and always try to " leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories.

Landings give you the unique opportunity to see animals and birds living in an environment where they have no fear of man and indeed where animals give us the briefest of looks before returning to their normal way of life.

The ships contribute to the Antarctic Organisation that works to preserve the area.

The "Cruise by" option basically gives you the opportunity to see ice bergs but nothing of the wild life that makes the area unique. 

We have done it both ways and provided that the ships continue to operate within the rules laid down by the Antarctic Convention I see no issues with them offering this type of cruise.

Indeed you could argue that the traditional cruise ships that are not ice strengthend and carry over 2000 passengers are potentially a bigger threat than ships that are designed to operate in these waters and are limited to around 200 passengers.

It's a choice we all must make individually.

1 hour ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

If you have the $$ for an expedition cruise that us the way to go.  Just remember as was said the Falklands are a 50/50 coin flip.depending on weather and while cruising past Antarctica is wonderful; remember weather can be anything from incredible sunshine to 40' waves.

The Antarctic cruises are very popular and many "unavailable " cabins will be in TA Group blocks.

The month doesn't matter.  Only if the weather gods are working for you.

Expedition prices: some very expensive 5 and 6 star lines now offer this type of cruise with all the facilities you would expect on a traditional cruise. Others, for example Hurtigruten, provide a more basic and to us more authentic type of experience but still with a highly professional Expedition team. As you will spend most of you time on deck, attending briefings, talks, enjoying the observation lounges and of course the landings you will spend so little time in your cabin an inside cabin is really all you need.

1 hour ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

If you have the $$ for an expedition cruise that us the way to go.  Just remember as was said the Falklands are a 50/50 coin flip.depending on weather and while cruising past Antarctica is wonderful; remember weather can be anything from incredible sunshine to 40' waves.

The Antarctic cruises are very popular and many "unavailable " cabins will be in TA Group blocks.

The month doesn't matter.  Only if the weather gods are working for you.

The months matters on an expedition cruise . Basically you have 2 choices:

Early - from the start of the season until mid November: early in the breeding season so best chance to see baby penguins/seals etc. More snow which can make landings more difficult. Best time for whales.

Late: End Jan - March: penguins/seals etc all now juveniles (any babies will have been born too late and will be "Skewer Meat". i.e. won't survive). Less snow landing mainly on rocks. Less chance to see whales. 

Note: King Penguins breed all year so any time you can see everything from eggs to fully grown adults.

If price is not an issue the Christmas/New Year cruise with Hurtigruten with a special Christmas Day service in the church on South Georgia followed by a walk to Shackleton's Grave would be our number one choice (we actually went end Feb/early March

On 4/10/2024 at 10:33 AM, Tiggipaws said:

Good morning

 

I am new to Celebrity and have a couple of questions regarding this cruise

 

1. Do they normally have dates for this cruise in February or March?

2. There are quite a few cabins unavailable are they sold or being withheld?

 

Thank you

There are no passenger number limits on the type of cruise offered by Celebrity as it doesn't land anywhere covered by the Antarctic Convention.

The most important decision you need to make is what sort of experience do you want?

1) that offered by Celebrity, Princess, HAL or any of the other traditional cruise lines which is basically a few days of "scenic Cruising" among ice bergs. The pictures of penguins they include is, I consider misleading as most are either taken in South America or in the Falklands (less than 50% of ships get in to Stanley due to the weather and the long tender ride.

2) A cruise with a specialist company which includes numerous landings enabling you to really experience this unique environment.

We have done it both ways once on Celebrity Infinity and once on Hurtigruten's Fram and the Fram wins by a mile.

For ship's like the Fram passenger numbers are restricted to around 200 (Fram takes 208 but outside Antarctica it carries over 500). Landings are restricted to 100 at a time with no one person being allowed on shore for more than 1 hour at a time - groups are rotated to to meet these requirements.

Prices vary widely - the best usually available as soon as each seasons itineraries are announced and on ship you choose.

A few pics to whet your appetite:

13 hours ago, samofam said:

It is not productive for the staff or other passengers if passengers allow problems to slide. I'm not saying be a nitpicker but address problems immediately. That is what helps keep up the standards and not allow the occasional lazy worker to slip by, we are told they share tips so they should be kept accountable. The cabins should be properly cleaned and prepared, it is really gross to find remnants from the previous guests and this includes having the verandah clean also.  It is also a question of hygiene.

I have once needed to ask for a different cabin steward and once for a different butler.

Cabin stewards do  not necessarily notice if draperies are coming down or drains are slow or blocked to give a couple of examples.

 

as long as you don't remove auto grats tips paid through that system are not shared. Any extra tips you pay direct are also not shared.

3 hours ago, Hawkstar33 said:

The crew of the newest ships get picked from all the other ships...They take the cream of the crop...Seeing the room attendant or not, would not bother me, unless there was an issue..Towels are not an issue, just an oversight that is easily solved by looking for any crew out and about, near your room. 2 or 3 times same problem might be.   Almost always is there an attendant or crew member of some sort, walking around.  Water from your wine cooler dripping without a tray underneath, is something I would've wiped up myself, if it was flooding the area..Unclean is an issue for sure, and head of housekeeping would hear about that, if unable to address with attendant. It seems like there is not enough time for the attendants to clean the rooms from 9-11, as passengers are getting off and new ones coming on.  The key at the door system lets you go to your room sooner, which we all love, but staff might not be caught up and finished.  Yet we all run to dump our stuff off before we start to enjoy. Just not enough time for these workers. I have to add that folks are expecting to get every little thing that they ask for, no matter what it is, or what room class they are in. Not saying you in particular, but many have complained about some rather silly things...Things are truly not the same, as we have all noticed. I don't see it, or hear it being better on a different cruise line..  Lotta people, lotta cabins, less staff to get everyone a never melting ice bucket twice a day, and not enough time in the day.  There is still a sense of recovery from covid, believe it or not...Crew left, and were off so long, that they got other jobs and never came back.  Hope it gets better for you

just to clear up an "urban myth" about new ships and post Covid Staff which were tackled head on during a wide ranging  Q and A session on Silhouette organised by the wonderful Guest Relations Director Julie. with the Hotel Director, Executive Chef and Chief Engineer all taking part 

1) It's simply impossible to move all the experienced staff to the new ships. The crew have "sea mans visas" that are valid for the duration of a contract and are ship specific -  moving them is impossible. Nor can crew be held without pay waiting for a new ship.

2) experienced staff get more choice over which ships they sail on and many choose only to sail in M or S class.

3) Staff in the same Departments have different length contracts - for example a new Cabin Steward could start with 3 months whilst a more experience one be on 6 or more months - this is essential to avoid all the crew having to be replaced at the same time. Pre Covid this occurred naturally but Post Covid it had to be arranged "artificially" as when a ship sailed for the first time all the crew started on the same day.

4) After Covid over 80% of staff returned - at first this meant it was easy to fill the ships  as they restarted but as more of the fleet resumed sailing it became harder. The strict Vaccination/Quarantine regulations also increased the delays - pre covid from offering a contract to boarding a ship could be days post covid it was weeks. 

5) Covid and Russia's invasion of Ukraine also highlighted the risks of recruiting mainly from a fairly small number of countries and X has been stepping up recruitment in new areas including the Caribbean and South America.

We have sailed numerous times since the restart and have found the level of service to be generally of the same high standards and delivered in the same friendly manner as it was pre covid.

6 hours ago, susan0623 said:

Thanks for the responses.  I should clarify we will be on Silhouette.  For S-class, anytime dining, do we just show up when we want?  Does the wait time tend to be long?

 

Thank you!

 

Susan

We always pre book. Wait times will vary depending on how many passengers turn up at the same time - just like any other restaurant. If there is a long wait you may be offered a buzzer enabling you to wait in a bar. Wait times can be reduced if you tell the check in staff you are are happy to share - our choice is a table of 6. We don't cruise to eat alone we do that at home.

15 hours ago, horseymike said:

one of the places my wife and I enjoy on any cruise is the forward facing lounge area usually on a higher deck at the very front of the ship where you can enjoy the panoramic views of the ocean and or port. These areas no longer exist for us ( steerage passengers ) on the e class celebrity ships.

You can hardly use the term steerage on E class as only around 5% of passengers have the forward view you love. One reason we will never cruise E class.

1 hour ago, hcat said:

i know they say that, but in some cases they simply cannot handle so many staterooms....

 

We have been very lucky so far.  Hope things improve for OP and bad service is an exception...

we have had one bad steward - complained and had meeting with Senior Officer - understood the guy's contract would not be renewed.

The biggest complaint (i.e. what makes their job difficult) is the number of passengers who stay in their cabins all day. This is a particular issue on cruises with lots of sea days.

8 hours ago, hcat said:

And they no longer have assts..  They get more pay and tips but I think it was better when the   attendants had help,  and it was a good training tool.

All the Stewards we have spoken too prefer the new system as now they are soley responsible for their own batch of cabins - don't get the blame if others mess up. The number of cabins they do was reduced when the new system was introduced

1 hour ago, Stockjock said:

One of my clients (w/a big Wall Street firm) is a retired U.S. Navy Commander, who graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis.  I posted something about Capt. Kate on social media awhile back.  He read up on her and said, "Captain Kate has earned her stripes,  She's the real deal.  Captain Kate is a rock star."

have to disagree - the real "stock star" is Captain Kirk - see his amazing late night show in the theatre and you will know why. 

1 hour ago, arealcheapskate said:

A few points to make here - I don't need an excuse. I'll let someone else pay my way. 

 

I will flat out just tell you that each cruise (if it's a USD booking) we go and have them removed from the account. I don't even do it at the end of the cruise to try to get the "benefit" - just straight at the beginning or perhaps Day 2 to get it out of the way. 

 

No shame and no guilt. If the cruise line can't pay a fair wage - it's not my job either. If the employees aren't being paid fairly, they will speak with their feet and if they don't that's okay too - I'm not going to lose sleep. Same reason I don't lose sleep when I buy cheap clothes, or an overpriced Apple product made in China with less than questionable labor sourcing. 

 

Just because I spend x amount on the cruise doesn't mean I want to tip a certain percentage. 

 

I always find these threads so amusing because they always devolve into some sort of lecture on ethics and morals. I'll be the first to say if not tipping makes me unethical or some sort of pariah, I'm happy to wear that label. After all, my username checks out. 

I admire what appears to be your "apparent" honesty however, at least to my eyes, it has 2 glaring omissions that I assume you will be willing to clarify:

1) you object to auto grats and then go on to say " just because I spend x amount on a cruise doesn't mean I want to tip a certain percentage". What you don't clarify is that having removed Autograts if you then go on to tip staff individually or if you don't tip anyone. Which is it?

2) I assume that you never have a drink at the bar, wine with meals or a coffee in the Al Bacio as all of these have a 20$ gratuity added to the cost.

19 hours ago, Mark_K said:

They made a big jump effective 1/1/23, maybe that’s what got Celebrity to thinkingCAPTAINS CLUB - benefits from Dec 2013.doc

 

For bookings made on or after January 1, 2023:

• $25.00 USD per person per day for The Haven and Suites;
• $20.00 USD per person per day for Club Balcony Suite and below;

 

For bookings made before January 1, 2023, that pre-pay their service charges before their sail date:

• $20.00 USD per person per day for The Haven and Suites;
• $18.00 USD per person per day for Club Balcony Suite;
• $16.00 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types

the comparison with X in all cabin grades is: