Goingagin

Sailing on Oceania and one of our ports is Santorini.

Please dont worry about my interests - what was your best experience here as a shore excursion?

Thank yo

Hello everyone, Sick of cruising to the same places? This thread is for those who do more than the 'closed loop' cruises and who have passports and who have travelled around perhaps on land based trips and have come upon places that cruise ships SHOULD go but do not. As I look through various pamphlettes and all the different cruise lines, they are all beginning to look similar. Can you name some places that are not yet on itineraries but would be most welcome. Please DO NOT give port answers that boutique ships visit. I really dont want the ..........well when I was on the MV Massively Expensive we stopped at...... Has anyone a really good idea? Honest mistakes are forgiven in advance (you selected a port but some ships do go there)

Hello everyone,

Sick of cruising to the same places?

This thread is for those who do more than the 'closed loop' cruises and who have passports and who have travelled around perhaps on land based trips and have come upon places that cruise ships SHOULD go but do not.

As I look through various pamphlettes and all the different cruise lines, they are all beginning to look similar.

Can you name some places that are not yet on itineraries but would be most welcome.

Please DO NOT give port answers that boutique ships visit.

I really dont want the

..........well when I was on the MV Massively Expensive we stopped at......

Has anyone a really good idea? Honest mistakes are forgiven in advance (you selected a port but some ships do go there)

As many of you know, I am a newbie when it comes to cruising. Would a 14 day TA be too long to begin with? I have seen many experienced cruisers point out that they get fed up after about 7-10 days. Will 2 weeks be overwhelming?

I too am not keen on flying anymore - and when you live 'downunder' that can be a problem. But ... I love a long cruise - and the smaller the ship the better.

I have only done two trips of less than 10 days- Sydney to New guinea return loop and Black Sea - and while they were interesting the long cruises are best. (longest cruise 85 days- rome to singapore via Cape Town South africa)

You really become at home on your ship, you know everybody (or it feels like it) there is a communiy spirit, insider jokes, just a wonderful feel. As a previous reply said - view it as your floating resort, as part of your vacation - and the added bonus - NO JET LAG

We have just booked an APT 21 day trip - land for 10 days then on the Caledonian Sky from Broome to Darwin along the Kimberly Coast. Anyone have some helpful tips and ideas please.

1) Do they supply snorkle gear for the Indonesian islands? (Yes I know I'm not swimming on the kimberly coast - I know there are no sharks - the crocs ate them all).

2) Dress code - just how laid back is it?

3) Tipping

4) Reef shoes OK for shore landings or something more sturdy?

...............and anything you might consider helpful please.

Thank you

What are the P&O cruise ships like compare to others?

If sailing in/from OZ - DONT do P&O - its not the same as in England. Food is 3rd rate - you even have to pay for icecream at dinner in the restaurant.

Roast of the day is meatloaf - and then - remember Diane Brimble - its a drinking crowd and all that that implies.

I realise they are a bit cheaper ... but please pay the extra for Princess - if you are over 50 - pay even a little more and go Holland America - it is well worth it.

Have any cruisers been on a cruise this summer which included Vanuatu? I was wondering if it was able to become the lovely port it was before and able to get back the tourist trade from the cruise ships. (Apologies if this has been asked before) Helen

Hi Helen,

Yes the port is slowly getting itself back together. Schools are still a bit short of 'fun' supplies for the kids. If you are on a rollcall suggest everyone brings $10 of stuff from the dollar shops - crayons, coloured pencils, stickers ans other little supplies.

Yes - thank you. I would much rather take that cruise as we are Elite on Princess, but...

The itinerary on P&O is more appealing to us and, more importantly, the timing only works for P&O.

We have a cruise booked that leaves from Sydney to Singapore early March and we will continue on to Abu Dhabi. Thus sailing with Princess on April 3rd, 2017 is sadly not an option.

I am aware of potential dangers in PNG - we were there in the highlands in 1998 - there was an attempt to attack our bus which was repelled. The village that the responsible party was from paid for it dearly. Otherwise it was a magical journey.

The cruise would visit different places and we would stick with ship's tours.

Have a great time! Just a note - many people took Kina - hard to get harder to change back - we took AU$ in a variety of small denominations and were able to buy the things we wanted and the bits and peices for sale. You sound well travelled but warning on goods coming BACK into Aust as we have very stick quarrentine laws (due to being reasonably disease free of some things) - grasses (baskets), shells and seeds (quaint jewellery) and wooden articles. I did bring back a Booker basket (just stunning) and some wooden objects but have a very close check for those hidden little worm holes.

Also - I assume you sail either from Brisbane or Sydney - Go to one of those DOLLAR shops and stock up on some colored pencils/little note pads and other school type Items - many of the local island schools/kids will come to the islands where the ship docks/tenders and do local dancers and request items for their school - its handy to have some ready.

Our ports were - Alotau, Kitiva, Rabaul, Kiriwina and Donini. Any questions let me know.

We are also Elite on princess - I wonder if our paths have ever crossed?

What you say may be true and it would not be my kind of cruise.

However, they have a 14 day cruise to Papua New Guinea that nobody else is offering.

Any suggestions?

Princess do a cruise to PNG. We did that in 2014.

TAKE YOUR SNORKLE GEAR - there are several stops with nothing much to do but snorkle. Volcano trip(Rabaul) is excellent. If you are a DIY please be very careful in PNG - I know some people who have wonderful experiences with locals - and some who were happy just to make it back to the ship.

How does a U.S citizen purchase a P&O Cruise. Also I am trying to order a brochure and the web site will not accept my American postal code. Anyone know a work around.

Hi,

Pleased you are coming down under. Might I suggest you look at another cruise line for your trip. P&O are EXTREMELY budget and this reflects in your on board delights. I dont quite know how to phrase my opinions of P&O - if you are 20 to 30 have a couple of noisy kids, like to drink till you fall over, make a lot of noise and crude jokes - you may be happy on board.

I travelled with them ONCE - never again.

What you need is a guidebook on the Caribbean! That way, you can find out about all of your ports, decide what interests you in each place, and then you can decide HOW to do it! Go to a library....they have guidebooks....or buy one...it's a good investment!

Thanks cb at sea.

Got a great book - Fodors Caribbean Cruises - even describes our ship. We have not cruised with Oceania before so that was good info in the pages. (Generally Oceania do not come so far south). Will make notes as hauling books around the world is HEAVY in the luggage.

Still..... any handy hints and personal information is good on any of the ports

Gerry

Hi everybody - especially all those of you who travel this area frequently on your cruises.

We are heading to the Carribean in 2016 and our ports of call are

1) Oranjestad - Aruba

2) El Guanmache - Venezula

3) St Georges - Grenada

4) Castries - Saint Lucia

5) Fort de France - Martinique

6) Bridge Town - Barbados

7) Scarborough - Trinidad and Tabago

A) Can you please tell me what is THE BEST thing to see/do in each of these ports. I realise beaches are a big issues there as are coral reefs - but those we have downunder- so whats really different or special that I might not see/do elsewhere. Like markets, local colour, RUINS, walks (reasonable - we're in our 60's) - not big shoppers.

B) Also - any info on docking for these ports - can you walk off into town or is transport needed.

C) Best SHIPS tours you have done at these ports

D) best tour companies for each port.

E) safety issues

F) dock side tour operators

I realise this is a huge ask but am hoping for some enlightenment - To try all the different threads for these ports will take me 10 years - so.. I started my own in hopes you will all be so kind to condense information for me on this one thread.

Thanks - Gerry:)

That stinks. :mad:

It certainly does. I Love the small ships - they go to ports others only dream of - can dock while others tender - you actually get to meet people more than once. I'll miss Ocean/Tahitian Princess - what a lady! and Pacific too.

Go to www.cruisetimetables.com and plug in your Asian departure ports from the top list. Millennium has a repo from Yokohama to Vancouver in May, Volendam does the same in April. Crystal Symphony from Tokyo to LA in April, Silver Shadow Tokyo to Seward. ; You can cobble together cruises that start in Singapore or Hong Kong with ones that start in Tokyo or Yokohama. Wicked expensive, though. EM

WOW - what a great website! THANK YOU VERY MUCH Essiesmom.

Seriously looking at Sun Princess to Kobe (2 night stop over) and Volendam to Vancouver 2015

Hope you get to Australia sometime - lots of interesting cruises to get down here and lots more when you do.

Go to www.cruisetimetables.com and plug in your Asian departure ports from the top list. Millennium has a repo from Yokohama to Vancouver in May, Volendam does the same in April. Crystal Symphony from Tokyo to LA in April, Silver Shadow Tokyo to Seward. ; You can cobble together cruises that start in Singapore or Hong Kong with ones that start in Tokyo or Yokohama. Wicked expensive, though. EM

Thank you

Sounds just what I'm looking for

Most are repositioning cruises returning ships from Asia "seasons" to their North America seasons. Most of the cruises aren't short. Really less than about 25 days.

 

Holland America has a number. Look in April. Look for the Volendam and the Oosterdam. Also try the Amsterdam.

Thanks for that. Yes - a repositioning is what I'm after - and I like long cruises.

Yes I know about Oosterdam - sails from Australia - but I have done that one.

I can get the Sun Princess to Japan ( I'm coming from Sydney) or the Ocean Princess to Singapore - would like to get to US/Canada from Asia. Across north Pacific/Bering Sea.

travel insurance -- yes or no

Always YES

If you are an OZZIE traveling for more than 3 months - you can have your private medical insurance put on hold if you take out travel insurance - we have found that the savings on one covers the cost of the other. If not an OZZIE - check with your private medical insurance to see if they do something similar - you do have to travel for a certain number of weeks/months however.

Hi everyone,

Having trouble finding cruises from Asia - Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan to a north America port - Vancouver, Seattle etc. I know they exist but the cruise net sites don't seem to cross over from their Asia sections to their North American sections and I keep going round in circles.Any help most welcome.

Thank you

Why no private excursions? They are usually much better than the ones from the cruise line and significantly cheaper.

Very true but.... then many of my best trips are not even cruises but land based adventures. Was not concerned about price actually as so many of the private tours mimic (or very nearly) the ships excursions.

Please everyone add a 'best' shore excursion. Not a private one please - but from a ship choice. Please list ship and port to avoid overlaps.

Sight seeing

* Machu Picchu - Santiago (Rotterdam)

* Elephanta Caves - Mumbai (Ocean Princess)

Doing Stuff

* Fishing/wilderness camp - Ketichan (Statendam)

Food

* Winery Tour - Cape Town (Ocean Princess)

Best cruises are long cruises on smaller ships.

Best for me was Rome to Singapore round WEST Africa - start in Med thru Gibralta, Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, Togo, Benin, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Reunion, Seyschelles, Maricius, Oman, Dubai, Mumbai, Malaysia to Singapore. (66 days)

That would get you to Singapore too where there are some amazing asian cruises.

For those who repeat cruises to Alaska - It is lovely - BUT... just wait till you do Greenland, Iceland and the Farroe Islands.

Hi everyone. This is probably a silly question but is there any way to know if a ship will dock on the port or starboard side. Is this dependent on the destination or are there any rules. I'm only asking because my mother has mobility problems and may spend some time on the balcony and it would be nice to have something to look at other than sea ! Thank you !

Hi there, Port or Starboard?

Heard the word POSH? It stands for Port out Starboard home (based on sailing to /from England/ India way back when).

I wouldn't worry about the ports - but days at sea if the sun is full on your balcony all afternoon can be a real no-no. I look at the cruise chart and work on east/west for sun light. A long cruise (50 days or more) it is extremely important.

its $135.00 for an new one for an adult good for 10 years and $110 for a child one good for 5 years.

Its not particularly difficult to get. You need to prove citizenship(birth certificate or naturalization papers) and identification a government issued id...a driver's license or other government issued id(there are alternatives allowed) and a in person interview available at many post offices or county clerks offices..pretty much everywhere within a few miles. Certain people can't get one because of child support issues or in case of divorce both parents need to approve getting it...

Thank you - as an Aussie(and we pay far more) I cant see what the issue is? You want to travel - you get a passport!

JUST HOW MUCH does a US passport cost?? It must be thousands if it is such an issue to get one - or is it extremely difficult?

This is my first time traveling anywhere outside the us...It was a last min. Vacation that is much needed. I have my certified bc but not a passport yet. I know it says its.fine from us port to us port. Just curious if anyone can comment that has actually done it.

Depends where you are going - If India, Indonesia, China, Japan, Egypt, Dubai, Malaysia, etc, they wont let you on the ship without a passport. I know there are round trips to Asia and across pacific to/from US ports but you wont be either getting on (or if on - getting off) without a passport. Is there a problem with getting one?? Our next cruise is 50 days and we updated our passports to have enough pages for visas.