Voyages to Antiquity Pompeii etc. May31

[patseacruiser]

Yes things are straightening out there. I also know they are going to meet with a few of the more traveled on the last night and get some good input.

[Ontariotrekker]

One of the VTA staff I have become friendly with I will email and beg for some pics. If I get I will post.

 

 

Thanks for the posts and all of your help. A few more comments about the general running of the ship would be appreciated so thank your friend for us. - shar

[patseacruiser]

What do you mean the general running of the ship? I can ask whatever you want. They may not answer LOL but I can ask.

[cruisemom42]

One of the VTA staff I have become friendly with I will email and beg for some pics. If I get I will post.

 

Thanks! That would be great. :)

 

I wonder about the several late arrivals/departures noted. It didn't occur to me but I wonder if a ship this size travels more slowly than a larger one -- thus more difficult to make up lost time if leaving port late?

[Ontariotrekker]

What do you mean the general running of the ship? I can ask whatever you want. They may not answer LOL but I can ask.

 

Sorry, I wasn't too clear... how are the meals? I know this sounds mundane but what about laundry??? Pool?? Library???

 

I hope she's having a great time.. Turkey is beautiful hope she enjoys her visits.:)

[patseacruiser]

I don't think you can judge a lot by this trip because of the strike things have been done that normally won't be done. She didn't get her luggage for over 3 days so they did her laundry for her as a courtesy. She says the food is good and they are giving them free alcohol. I think they are just doing things they normally won't do because they've had to leave late and do things a little or a lot different than they should do when we go on.

[snorkling lady]

Thank you Pat, for all the up-dates. Glad to hear that things are going well, despite things like the riots in Greece. What a way for a maiden voyage to start - yikes!

Cheers,

Lorna

Aranui 3

M.V. Fram

Spirit of Oceanius

Nautica

 

Voyages of Antiquity 11/2010

AMA Waterways 6/2011

[Worldwide Traveler]

We are booked in August. So after some research and phone calls I found out:

 

* Voyages to Antiquity is owned by same man (Gerry Herrod) who started Orient Lines

* Lots of the same people from Orient running the new company

* They spent over $30 million to convert what was called the Aegean One (570 pax) to Aegean Odyssey with 350 guests.

* Filipino crew like Orient

* Waiting for reviews from the first cruise.

* Really interesting concept from a destination standpoint and I really like the small ship and open seating dining so we don't have to rush back and can eat outdoors. Sailed for 2 weeks last year on Azamarama and never ate in the restaurant after the 4th day. Too easy and pleasant to eat at the Terrace location.

 

How do we get Cruise Critic to list Voyages to Antiquity separately and not in the "Other" section.;)

[cruisemom42]

 

How do we get Cruise Critic to list Voyages to Antiquity separately and not in the "Other" section.;)

 

I think that's unlikely; with only one small ship and few passengers per cruise, there just isn't enough participation to warrant a board. Especially considering that up until last year, all Mediterranean ports were lumped into one channel here on CC......:eek:

 

However, it's pretty easy to find active threads on this board.

[SwissMyst]

Thanks for the report. A few questions:

 

Since all excursions are included, does everyone go on the same excursion or are their choices?

 

What is this "use of students" that was referred to? Are they the guides at the port stops and is there more active involvement with the port stops or is it more tedious museum detail stuff and little contact with the living culture as well?

 

What are the bathrooms like - lighting, plug outlets, storage space, hair dryer, humidity, ventilation fans, etc? Closet and storage space in the lower end smaller cabins. Bed comfort.

 

Thanks

[Ontariotrekker]

The students are used as guides and helpers from all accounts. When I got my travel package, it listed all the available excursions + alternatives. It also gave me some user-apy trips if I was interested. Hopefully, if all 390 people want to do the same one, they can accoommodate it. You do have a form to send in to let them know which tours you want.

My kit advised that if you do not want the tour there would be no problem doing the port by yourself. I know one of the ladies on the first trip got off and had dinner in port for example.

[SwissMyst]

The students are used as guides and helpers from all accounts. When I got my travel package, it listed all the available excursions + alternatives. It also gave me some user-apy trips if I was interested. ..... .

 

What is a "user-apy" trip?

 

We have not gotten any detailed info yet from the company on the Cairo-Athens excursion options. Looking forward to getting more details.

[Ontariotrekker]

What is a "user-apy" trip?

 

We have not gotten any detailed info yet from the company on the Cairo-Athens excursion options. Looking forward to getting more details.

 

I had a whoops moment there, it should have been user-pay. There are extra trips available while you are in port and after or before the included ones for which you pay an extra fee. IE - on my trip I can go to Ravell or take a trip on a small boat along the Amalfi coast. It lists everything you see and do, the difficulty for walking etc and what is included - a snack or wine-tasting etc. On my trip, the average cost for the extra 1/2 day tours is $68US

:) :) :) :)

I just talked to my TA and she is getting very positive feedback from her 3 clients who went on the first cruise.

Good food with decent wine. When they missed a port because of the Athens issues, the company gave them an extra tour for free. Excellent service and the cabins were nice.:)

[cruisemom42]

To add to what Ontariotrekker has said, if you look closely at the brochure (online if you don't have the hard copy), you can decipher what the "included" tours are at each port by the information given. When it says "Full day visit to Palmyra...." then I assume that is one of the included tours.

 

When they say "Alternatively, you can...." then I am assuming that's an excursion you would have to pay for.

 

Hopefully the shore excursions for my sailing will be available soon!

[Ontariotrekker]

Some of the alternatives are not paid for but simply different things with often a less intensive or easier level of walking, climbing etc. I plan on the doing the level 2 0r 3 stuff in the morning and trying to do the easier stuff in the afternoon. On my tour, everything looks like an interesting tour regardless of the level.

[cruisemom42]

Good to know that! I am dying to get more info on our shorex options. Especially the overnight in Syria. :D

[SwissMyst]

Good to know that! I am dying to get more info on our shorex options. Especially the overnight in Syria. :D

 

Aha, I figured that must be an overnight in Syria to go to Palmyra and some of the other places inland. Arrive at one port and then pick up the ship again at another. This is going to be a very interesting land/cruise experience starting out on land for the first part from Cairo to Luxor and then the Syria overnight excursion. It looks like a terrific and diverse itinerary.

[Worldwide Traveler]

We sailed on Orient Lines 6 times and the shore excursions were the best and pre/post sighseeing and hotels excellent as well. So the thought of places like Syria , Lebanon, etc. sounds amazing.

 

I heard about a lot of difficulty at the start of the first cruise due to all the problems in Athens but that they extended themselves to deliver the tours. Apparently, f;)rom there everything improved. I can't even begin to think about sailing on a big ship anymore and can't wait to sail on 6/1 and report back to all of you. This cruise has all our favorites (Rome, Sorrento, Dubrovnik, Venice) and we are really interested to spend 6 days on Sicily instead of just visiting Taormina again. Sounds really interesting.

[Ontariotrekker]

Someone else on the cruise with us... finally! I thought I read someplace that you were going to travel in August?? Did you book 2 cruises??

[cruisemom42]

So I look forward to reading full reviews from all of you who sail before me. (Which is everyone, as I'm on the last cruise of the season....;))

[patseacruiser]

Did you all get your included excursions? I have the brochure just don't know exactly how to post it here. I do it right sometimes and then I forget how I got it to work the next time.

[patseacruiser]

I just got the Sicily brochure too! I will post as soon as I figure it out if any one is interested.

[myotis]

Patsacruiser, I would be interested in seeing the itinerary for Sicily. We will be on the "Pompeii is something Wonderful" trip but that trip covers quite a bit of Sicily also, so I would like to read it if you care to post it. Thank you.

[cruisemom42]

How far in advance of the actual sailing do the shore excursions become available?

 

Also, someone mentioned a reading list -- I wonder when that will arrive? After final payment?

 

Questions, questions!

[SwissMyst]

Looking at the speaker line-up for the Sicily VTA cruise and it looks fantastic -lots of food and wine experts. Please report back as this itinerary looked wonderful too.

 

Our speaker list for the Cairo-Athens looks a little thin right now - only one couple who are not Middle Eastern specialist and one Egyptologist which will be fine for the few days we are in Egypt. I hope they announce more for this segment but it might be early still to line them up. It is probably easier to get academics during the summer months than the later ones like ours in November.