mayaart

We are on the Oosterdam April 5, 2024, to Spain from FLL. I cannot find a roll call for this cruise. Can you help me please? We are flying into FLL April 4 from MD.

I'd like this information too.

We just finished our trip on whisper and also luckily got upgraded fairy dust. Nice treat. Had good weather for most of the days. Lovely excursion from Cadiz to Jerez de l a Frontera Sherry and tapas and classical guitar. Normandy Beaches very moving.

On 6/30/2017 at 4:50 AM, TLCOhio said:

 

Appreciate these excellent comments and helpful follow-ups from Emtbsam and WesW. YES, this location is amazing, so historic and moving, very well maintained, etc. Below are a few of my pictures from when we visited there during a day-trip from Paris to Normandy in 1995.

That upcoming 75th anniversary will be very significant. Sadly, however, most veterans of that military action will not be around to help celebrate their personal triumph and these acts of brave courage. If they were age 22 at that time, they would need to be at age 97 for this important date in history.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

AFRICA?!!?: Lots of interesting and dramatic pictures can be seen from this live/blog at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Now at 32,478 views for this visual sharing including Cape Town, along South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta area.

 

One of the "best of the best" highlights for Normandy is the WWII landing site at Omaha Beach. This site is beautifully maintained and very personally moving. France granted the United States a special, perpetual concession to the land occupied by the cemetery, free of any charge or any tax. This cemetery is managed by the American government, under Congressional acts providing yearly financial support. The cemetery is located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel. It covers 172 acres and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. Among the burials at the cemetery are three recipients of the Medal of Honor, including Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of President Theodore Roosevelt. After the creation of the cemetery, another son of President Roosevelt, Quentin, who had been killed in World War I, was exhumed and reburied next to his brother Theodore, Jr.:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these pictures larger!)

 

Thanks for sending this link Terry. We are only a day away from leaving Maryland and it has been helpful. One question right now: Would you recommend the trip to Dinan or Mont St. Michelle from St. Malo? Really enjoyed the live blog format.

 

On 5/6/2019 at 7:03 AM, Silver Spectre said:

Gorgeous local fresh sole that came on in Dakar and grilled by Ratko the next day

Which dining venue was this taken? Getting onboard in London

First time at the water cooler. Leaving Friday for London. London to Barcelona Any must do suggestions?

No roll call listed for this departure so not much help.

On 1/6/2019 at 10:50 AM, alidor said:

Mayaart - we are doing this same cruise in March and we did sign up for the Great Barrier Reef Trip.  You said you thought this was a rip off.   Can I ask why you think this?

 

 

I tried to send a reply while in an airport lounge  in Beijing but couldn't get it sent. Time change hours really had me zonked for a few days when we finally got home from Auckland. 

The Great Barrier Reef trip was run by a local commercial outfit that used to be known as Quicksilver. You might be able to look up previous reviews of their trips. It is basically a cattle car snorkeling trip out to a fixed platform. The specialist on board the catamaran gave a very short talk/discussion on the trip out. I expected much better. There was very little assistance for snorkelers on that side of the platform and it was choppy enough to bounce people around while trying to enter or exit. They did have rash guard suits for people as it is jellyfish time in the area. They did have a semi-submersible trip available for no upcharge but the scuba-doo trips were an additional $149. The underwater viewing area on the platform was a nice touch.

The same company offers a shorter trip for snorkeling out to Green Island. I heard someone say that the snorkeling there was not very good.

Seabourn's time in port made it difficult to find local outfit that could get you out to the reef and back in time to make the ships departure. I think it would be worth pursing another option.

On 12/25/2018 at 6:18 PM, Stickman1990 said:

 

Good to hear you are giving Crystal a try - I think you will want to be onboard on the 4th though 🙂 - although I guess she will still be in New Orleans on the 5th 🙂 - that's a great cruise - at a great price too. I hope you enjoy it and would be interested in your comparison. There are definitely differences between the two lines - but the nice thing is both provide a good luxury cruising experience 

 

I'll post my summary here in the next day or so. We are on Crystal Serenity from Auckland to Perth in early February

 

The dryers on Encore had an auto sensing function for drying - they are good machines and only a couple of years old. I was just surprised that there were only 5 for the whole ship. You will have plenty of machines to choose from on Symphony

I really appreciate Stickman's summary. We just got off Encore in Auckland today. Lot of thought after 34 days from Bali to Auckland.

Caveats:  our first Seabourn cruise.  Regent gold level. HAL 3 star Mariner. Favorite cruise the Paul Gauguin.

Big crew change in Sydney. Still inconsistent over all.  Food was not remarkable, variety so so.

Daniella and Ross very good and nice voices for the sail in and out.

Staffing seemed stretched thin.

Making an effort to get to know which staff worked Best for you helped.

Excursions were over priced and the Great Barrier reef trip for$389./ person was a rip off.

I won't be looking for another on Encore.

Still hoping to get Regent Platinum.

I started with my travel agent and then called seabourn. The baggage tags and filled out wrap on tags were overnighted directly from Seabourn. Something about documents being surpressed. My booking agent had left the agency and I was dropped through the cracks. I'm looking for a new agency. Recommendations welcome. I'd had good luck with them for several years but this was not good and of course the agency blames seabourn.

Thanks for setting up the live now on encore

We are currently in the Cathay Pacific lounge at Hong Kong waiting for our 10 am flight to Bali.

Thanks stickman for the tip for car and driver in Bali tommorow.

We are new to seabourn but really like Regent so we will be comparing those two.

2 days before leaving I didn't have luggage tags or anything from Seabourn. We had an assigned cabin so really mad about lack of boarding passes etc. Regent sends a really nice portfolio of bag tags, etc with a nice holder for the documents and ship info.

See you soon and we are in a 5 on deck 7.

Thanks for keeping us on your trip with you. I picked it up as we leave on Voyager from Venice June 1 and it is getting close. We were last on Voyager in the Baltics and then the voyage up the Scandinavian coast all the way to 80 deg. North. We were on Mariner on last Dec. and Jan. Amazon cruise which was our last cruise for over a year. My husband, Mike, came down with an illness that has never been diagnosed and still has side effects from the bleeding in the lungs. It was during the time of Zika but they refused to test him for it. We are excited to finally feel well enough to be able to explore on Voyager again.

Thanks for ringing in, Bill. And thanks, too, for your very worthwhile and often very funny other posts. You're a witty chap; always a delight.

We are arriving on May 31 about 10 AM Venice airport. Looking for someone to share a water taxi to our hotel near San Marco Plaza. Hotel Savoia & Jolanda.

Hi,

We take our first Regent cruise June 1st out of Venice, really looking forward to it. Can someone please tell me how to pre order drinks in our suite? I have logged into my account but cannot find the link to order?

Thanks. :D

Your steward/stewardess will introduce themselves and you can give them your beverage orders. I also usually tell them what time I'd like fresh ice in my ice container each day. Be friendly they're nice.

Are you arriving at Venice airport May 31 about 10:00 and needing a transfer to a hotel? Maybe you are using RSSC transfers and air but we are looking for someone that might want to share a water taxi as we are arriving a day early.

I really don't want to start another thread on this but the others are closed and it could be important for a few visiting during this time frame. I just received this through the STEP program

 

"U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg informs U.S. citizens and family members that Russian authorities have issued permits for several pro-government and opposition group rallies/demonstrations to take place in St. Petersburg on May 1 – 6, 2014.

 

As with all rallies or large-group gatherings, the potential for confrontation cannot be ruled out. U.S. citizens should also be aware of the possibility for counter-demonstrations or other spontaneous protest activity throughout the northwest Russia region and other areas of Russia. Such large gatherings will likely cause significant traffic and mass-transit disruptions.

 

A larger-than-usual police presence will likely be evident in and around downtown St. Petersburg to monitor the events. U.S. citizens should carry their identification and show it if requested to do so by legitimate authorities.

 

Please note the following guidance from the U.S. Department of State’s Country Specific Information for the Russian Federation: “U.S. citizens should avoid all public demonstrations, whether properly authorized by local officials or not, and avoid any large crowds and public gatherings that lack enhanced security measures.”

 

U.S. citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.

 

The U.S. government has received no specific threat against U.S. citizens or U.S. interests in Russia. However, all U.S. citizens considering travel within Russia should evaluate their personal security situation in light of current political tension and the possibility of violence or anti-U.S. actions directed against U.S. citizens or U.S. interests. The U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg also reminds U.S. citizens and family members in Russia of the Travel Alert issued by the Department of State on March 14.

 

 

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Russia enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you do not have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate."

Thanks for posting this good information. We are scheduled on a cruise with three days in St. Petersburg late August.