Catlover54

I am enjoying your narration and select photos. If you have time, a couple questions: 1. On Ponant ships, when you step into the Zodiaks, after you step on the side of the Zodiak, do you first step onto a box or other firm object, and then to the floor of the Zodiak, or do you go directly from the side of the Zodiak to the floor? 2. Is there just one crewman, or two (one of each side) to assist guests stepping into the Zodiak? 3. On a more trivial issue: do you have French bread and pastries served on board , or just thawed rolls that were prebaked? And can you get snacks like their bread and cheese or something else in between meals? (I know it's early, but you've been on Ponant expeditions before). 4. What, if any, toilet opportunities are there when you go out on Ponant expedition walks like you just had? (If it's just "find a bush, or pretend there's a bush", I would plan to limit prior fluid intake accordingly :)) 5. How is the internet? Thank you in advance! I look forward to following along, and always enjoy your reports.

Quark also had a woman in her 60's die on a Zodiak that overturned in the Arctic in 2013. I'm not sure if there have been other Zodiak deaths and/or severe injuries that then change your future.

DH and I will be touring a country that allows drone usage (with certain rules) before we then board a Ponant ship, and DH hopes to use his drone for photography in areas where it is allowed. I know that some ships won't allow drones on board even if you don't use them, others allow them on board and are fine with them living in your cabin as long as you do not use them on board or in port. Every line I know of prohibits use of drones while on the ship, that is clear. I cannot find the Ponant policy on drones on the website (a search does not take me to anything about drones), but I seem to recall having read somewhere a few months ago that you can take them on board as long as you don't fly them. I just cannot find where I read it. Calling and asking won't do us much good because 30-40% of the time, in our experience, the call center clerks give out erroneous information, and we don't want to risk having our expensive drone confiscated prior to boarding due to detrimental reliance. Do you know if Ponant has a strict prohibition on drones boarding a ship (even if not used), or do they allow them (as long as not used on board or in ports)? If allowed, do you have a link to written information? Thanks in advance.

1. You agree with donaldsc, presumably including his statement "Antarctica it doesn't matter what is on the ship as long as the ship and your cabin are comfortable." However, you also wrote, "Because of the potential for extremely rough seas for 2 days each way, I would only book a mid-ship cabin and would not want to risk being forward or aft." So you should be able to understand that the OP can have concerns about Viking assigning the cabin -- e.g., if he were assigned a forward or aft and not mid-ship cabin, he might not be "comfortable" in that cabin crossing the Drake or in any other storm. He also might not be "comfortable" (and might even feel ill, depending on medical and orthopedic issues) flying 10 hours in modern-day coach. 2. Also, (I don't know about the OP), most people who go to Antarctica already know and understand they are going there primarily to see Antarctica. But they may have the correct idea that, all else being equal, a larger ship may be more "comfortable" than a tiny ship (potentially less seasickness, which impacts comfort). They may also have read that if the weather is terrible and landings are postponed day after day, having a decent cabin will make the journey more "comfortable", as will having a variety of things to do on the ship (other than reading, with or without seasickness) . People generally hope to be able to enjoy every single day on deck and/or on landings when in Antarctica, and to have smooth sailing, but they like to plan for contingencies.

Other than heating water, what do people use a big microwave for? Can pax bring leftovers (doggie bags), e.g., from giant meat dishes that are 2x -3x the size one usually eats, from dinner? If so, are there plates and silverware to put food on? Thanks in advance.

Are you feeling lucky?

Atlantide

Pax can, of course, ask to have bottled water left on the table so they can pour it themselves. I preferred that approach on my recent Seabourn cruise after the first couple days because I did not like the odd-tasting pitcher water that was poured routinely, and wanted sparkling water from a bottle. If I left it to the waiters to refill my bottled water glass, there would be very long waits (there aren't supposed to be on a luxury line, but there were), and/or they would mix their pitcher water into my sparkling. Pax can also do the same thing with premium wine (and we did -- due to slow and confused wine service, and not because we are uncomfortable with having someone pour our wine). The OP would like to experience the joys of a luxury line, and he might still be able to do so even if he wants to pour his own water.

1. Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent (also, previously Crystal) are generally considered "luxury" English language lines. Scenic (Australian) may also be in that category. The German line Hapag Lloyd is also luxury but only has English language on two of their ships (Europa II and expedition ship Inspiration). Ponant (French line, but with English also used as an on board language) may or may not fall into that category. People disagree about what is and is not luxury, but factors considered include inclusivity of food and drink other than premium drink, public space per passenger, passenger to crew ratio, and ability to accomodate unique passenger requests. Some do and some do not include basic excursions and airfare (but not necessarily the one you want), and the price reflects this ( some have an opt out provision where you get a credit). Premium lines are generally considered Azamara and Oceania, Viking, and maybe Celebrity, maybe Ponant (by those who don't call it luxury). Rooms are smaller. You pay for many add-ons (drink packages). There is more as-you-go nickel and diming but not as bad as on the mainstream lines including slightly above average HAL. 2. All these lines prohibit jeans after 6 PM in the main dining room, so if you want to be in jeans and T shirt ALL the time you would be very limited in the evenings (e.g., to the buffet area and room service) Silversea is the most strict on dress code in the main dining room (MDR), and will require a tie and dark suit or tux (suits are more common) on their "formal" nights in the MDR, which is once a week on average, and a jacket on "informal" nights. Otherwise the code in the evening for public areas is "elegant casual", e.g., a collared shirt and nicer slacks. Your horizons will be broader if you bring a dark suit and tie (will get you into MDR on formal nights) , or at least a sport coat. During the day, you can wear whatever you want. I suggest you click onto the websites of these lines and read their dress codes. Also, within the forum for each line, there are dress code discussions. Of all the luxury lines, SS may be the least appropriate for you, unless you want to restrict your evening food venues quite a bit 3. You are not obliged to share tables on any luxury line (but sometimes you will have to wait if you don't want to share and the cruise is sold out) 4. If you are not alcohol drinkers, you would not benefit from all inclusive alcohol lines, but you also can receive inclusive mocktails, sodas, fancy coffees etc.

Be it Covid, flu, or RSV, it is sadly going to be a long, long time before travelers stop thinking of other travelers as cootie-ridden disease vectors. We finally caught Covid on my 7th cruise since the restart (on another line), and DH had just gotten over it last month. Shortly thereafter, riding high on our new immunity, we then had the brilliant idea to go to New Orleans (via Dallas) to check out the National WWII Memorial Museum (and of course to eat wonderful food in restaurants without masks). We did not catch Covid, but are laid up almost a week now with sore throat, hoarse coughs, laryngitis, and headaches. We're starting to joke about which virus we'll pick up on our next trip, masked or not, but we're not stopping 😞

This law firm references applicability of the ADA for ships sailing in U.S. waters (and also inclusion of "service" dogs). See post #48 for more discussion about service dogs. https://www.rivkindlaw.com/do-cruise-ships-have-to-comply-with-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-ada/ That does not mean that that is *all* that is relevant or that it is the "determining" factor, without more (I am not writing a legal brief, but find 'conflict of rights' topics intriguing -- if anyone has litigated this kind of issue on a ship, please chime in). Nor does it mean that even if the dog is technically a "service' dog, he can repeatedly sit on furniture meant for humans (unless that is required for his "service" -- unlikely here), much less poo ectopically. However, we only have reports of one poo that was not placed in an appropriate location, and the dog might, per the interpretations, get a pass by people in charge for one violation, but not for a pattern and practice of problem poo). Cruise ship staff need to follow all rules that apply to their ship to avoid getting sued by lawyers such as these, but also use judgment as to whether or not a dog is behaving in a manner that is outside the dog's "service" job description and is annoying and distressing pax. From everything we have heard 14th hand, e.g., about the poo (at least one, anyway) and furniture sitting, and people upset, there is a problem that needs to be addressed by competent staff, with adequate pax communication (at least to the limits of what is allowed to be discussed) before it escalates out of control and people who have major problems with dogs for whatever reason cancel bookings.

I'm pretty sure Fletcher has considered all of those issues and understands "the big picture". But odds are generally better to do a coveted desirable excursion you have never done before (likely a short list for Fletcher) if you have a real booking, as opposed to just a hope of getting on with a waitlist. There is more peace of mind with a real booking, even if you know that "s*** happens". Cruises and excursions are always a gamble at some level, but having a booked excursion improves your odds.

It is not uncommon for cruise prices to run a bit low in less desirable areas, and unfortunately one of the things that makes an area less desirable is having to pay a lot of money to get there and/or having to pay a lot for pre and post cruise hotels. I will add that the headache of getting somewhere remote, especially these days, where a cruise starts, is also a disincentive to some. Maybe you can catch a SS ship in Europe this summer (i.e., a shorter trip from Germany , so for a short flight perhaps you could stuff yourself into coach -- I envy Europeans who can easily access so many places to cruise). But then likely the prices will be more than $330 a night. Inflation sucks.

Even if the poodle is a "service" animal, that does not mean he needs to sit on the couch.

Since I'm a cat person, I don't know if poodles shed. But I have to wonder how my black pants would look in back if I were to unknowingly sit on that couch after the dog left!

Yes, cute. However, IF he is a service dog, I do not see that sitting on a sofa meant for humans, (clearly away from his human), instead of sitting on the floor, is required for him to perform his "service", whatever it is.

What is the specific excursion? I ask because some waitlists are more likely to clear than others (or have additional buses added). If someone reading this has been on the same expedition itineary you are considering, they might know more and be able to provide more educated information. I have been on several SS cruises where the waitlist did not clear, e.g., where it was not realistic to 'just add another bus' (e.g., intra-cruise land excursions where an overnight is done elsewhere, as an example, or a very limited enrollement, one of a kind "exclusive" excursion where adding more bodies would spoil the experience for others).

Having been on planes where emotional support poorly trained dogs under seats would get into arguments with each other (necessitating exigent seat changes, e.g., when I was caught in between and feared getting injured in the crossbiting), I was very happy when the air transport authorities in the U.S. modified/clarified their rules last year to 1) limit "service" animals to dogs and only dogs , and 2) now require the animal be a "service" animal and not just an emotional support animal (however, if a dog is trained to take a specific *action* in a psychiatric patient, that could be still considered a "service", depending on facts -- general comfort and happiness alone is not enough, but there can be disagreements in interpretation, and in motivation on how strict that interpretation should be. If anyone is interested, though we are straying off topic a bit, the link below goes over the rules, and FAQ about the rules for airline travel with service animals (and also addresses why "emotional support" animals are now excluded). https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-announces-final-rule-traveling-air-service-animal However, I still see poorly trained dogs masquerading as service animals in quite a few places, including medical clinics where dogs fight, chase each other, and come sniff patients' crotches (but then again, I am in CA :)). Unfortunately, some people also have an official certified "service" animal but then arguably abuse the privilege by not using the animal for a service, and just have him as a pet. My niece has been in a wheelchair since she was a child, with severely limited use of arms and legs; her parents waited years to get a very expensive, trained and certified "service" large dog. But the only service he performed was taking off her socks (she is so physically disabled that she still needs humans with her anyway, so what is the point of a dog also being able to take off her socks?). Still, she took him everywhere she went, proudly wearing the legitimate vest, because then people would look at her. She loves the attention, and being with the dog wherever she goes, and it is a sad situation, but arguably this is not really a "service" dog. There are other similar situations. SB would likely be legally protected just complying with rules like the airlines now use, IF they were required for ships sailing to/from the U.S. and do not have more explicit rules. But ultimately some judgment is required, and SB may have chosen to go above and beyond and also accommodate someone with borderline needs, we simply do not know. If they have done that, they will then obviously have to deal with all the unhpappy pax who do NOT want dogs on board (but those might just be told that if they don't want to be near a dog in SB Square, they should go elsewhere -- just like SB told people who did not want to be near smokers on the Venture that they should just go elsewhere and avoid them).

There is no legal requirement that a dog be of a particular breed to be considered a service dog (though they are indeed usually larger because the larger dogs can do more "service") neither under ADA nor U.S. public transportation rules. It depends on what their "service" is. Small dogs held close to the body in a sling, for example, are sometimes used by diabetics.

LOL! I think it was quite clear that you were implying the dog's owner is an American, despite not having used that word. 🙂

"There's Something about Mary" and the dog scene comes to mind 🙂

If this is a "service dog" , then IF the ADA/ship links I provided in post #27 (or similar) apply to SB ships then the dog can accompany Madam to the Colonnade, on a leash. There are definitely people who have tried to portray their emotional support animals, or just their pets as "service" dogs (e.g., anyone can buy a service dog "vest" on Amazon, and doctors not uncommonly feel pressured to sign off on dog paperwork requests so as not to annoy the demanding patient). However, true service training (at least in the U.S.) doesn't require a vest to be worn at all times, and involves more than just enjoying having your animal around you. True service animals do not poo in inappropriate places (rare exceptions), do not bark, do not sniff other people, and do not get into arguments with other dogs. They are leashed at all times (other than when medically necessary not to be leashed, e.g., if a dog needs to be off leash to "clear the room" for a vet with PTSD before entering, etc.). Sitting on furniture might be trickier to judge and may or may not be allowed -- the links in my post #27 suggest a proper service animal sits on the floor next to the owner, but it also allows for the possibility a dog may need to be so close to the owner that it can sense if the human is getting hypoglycemic or panicky (like the example used of having a little dog in a chest pouch, which is not uncommon). We don't know for sure if the dog (IF it is indeed a "service" dog) is sitting on the furniture to be closer to its owner's face/breath, for a purpose, or just because the owner thinks it is cute. Some other passengers on the ship, of course, clearly do not like this, (myself included, because I have seen too much abuse of "service dog" status). But neither do many guests in land restaurants where management has to let diners with service dogs in whatever their concerns are based on (fear of dogs, having been previously bit, allergies, sanitary concerns even if the dog does not poo, etc.) There is a tension between the rights of some who are vulnerable in one way (those who "need" a service dog) and the rights of others who have legitimate concerns about dogs. Lawyers who sue on behalf of disabled or special needs people are more abundant than lawyers who sue on behalf of people who get upset about being around dogs in restaurants, clinics, etc. My guess and hope is that SB has thought this through very carefully. It does not want to get sued for discrimination against a disabled elderly lady (who also happens to be able to afford an expensive suite). But if the dog repeatedly poos on the ground (unclear if this was just one incident) , and has no medical reason for having to sit on furniture, SB needs to be clear and communicate to concerned guests what is going on.

"Based on absolutely nothing other than the owner is from France and is in the owners suite, most everyone in this thread is positive that this is not a service dog." You left out that people here also noted the dog is unvested, is sitting on furniture in public places, and also defecated in a public place Are those issues relevant? Maybe yes, maybe no! 1. At least per the ADA, my understanding is that wearing a vest is not a requirement for a service dog to be considered a service dog (see ADA link below, which contains a lot of interesting information IF the cruise line has to follow it or similar edicts) So the lack of vesting is not a certain argument that the dog is not a service dog. 2. The cruise ADA and the cruise line information link below indicate a service dog can go almost everywhere the owner goes. But if a dog is not under the owner's "control" at all (or at least most) times, action can be taken to restrict its privileges, (e.g., would defecating in the wrong place and sitting on furniture be considered out of "control?" ONE violation might be seen as still being under the owner's control, but repeated ectopic defecations would arguably not be seen as such.) https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-bring-a-service-dog-on-cruise-ships/

Heart and lung conditions, would be a start. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/01/03/taking-icy-plunge-just-know-cold-shock-health-risks-12355 https://www.cnn.com/2013/01/17/health/polar-bear-plunges/index.html But of course, patients lie on medical forms all the time, for various reasons, so unless your conditions are obvious or you spill the beans, no one will likely stop you, and plaintiff's lawyers might still be able to sue on behalf of your estate (e.g., negligence in allowing such an event) if something bad happens.

"That should be enough", absolutely -- enough to get Fifi confined to a kennel. Perhaps next time I should bring my cats for Fifi to chase, Markham could bring his python to slither around, and we'd then also need a couple birds (preferably parrots) to make the party particularly interesting.🙄