lyndarra

I found Celebrity and HAL very much alike. Up untill COVID I had cruised both the same number of times. Since COVID it has been HAL due to better itineraries and Celebrity seeming to be charging higher prices in comparison.

My late wife and I would rarely have a suitcase weighing more than 16kgs/35lbs each when travelling o/s, cruise or land tour, between 2 to 6 weeks. Sometimes less if cruising/touring tropical regions. My two week Alaska cruise tour last June was just a tad over 17kgs due having a couple of extra cold/wet weather garments and a pair of hiking shoes.

Solo for me this time Lyle, although she may be persuaded, with the help of friends we were with in Alaska, to do an "Iceland, Greenland, Scottish Mysteries" cruise from Amsterdam/Copenhagen June next year. Failing that, there was an Arctic Circle Alaska cruise Seattle/Seattle same time next year that looked atractive.

Perhaps meet up near the Quay for a pre dinner drink then take the light rail to Chinatown to eat?

Today signed on to HAL Roll Call for 14 day Greece/Adriatic/Italy cruise on Nieuw Statendam this November.

So kind of you too.😉

I did a ship tour on Lombok last year using cruise credit. It wasn't expensive and, due to traffic congestion and narrow streets, the tour operators use mini buses. We had about 12-14 people on our Lombok tour, a comfortable number. Complimentary iced bottled water was included. Also free tea and coffee at the Lombok museum.

I have done Calgary/Vancouver as a pre cruise tour. Calgary to Jasper was by coach staying in Fairmont Hotels. Jasper to Vancouver was an overnighter with Via Rail which had sleeping berths and scenic observation dome cars. Best of both worlds. I agree doing the Rocky Mountaineer Calgary/Vancouver run could be boring - we were warned about that beforehand from friends who had had the experience.

Reading this, I can't help thinking of Blues Brother's "Rawhide" bar scene.

There was a Country music trivia on N Amsterdaam (Alaska) last year. It was fun but I scored only one correct answer🤠.

Happened the night before arriving in Sydney a few years back when we were on Sea Princess. Disembarkation was put back 24hrs. The man was never found. I believe it was determined to have been a suicide. Considering the off shore conditions searchers were fortunate to have recovered the victims' body. Always sad to hear of this happening.

Don't know. I've only been to one or two so long ago I can't remember its/their name/s but the pistacchio nuts were good.

Some do. In some restaurants (Canada) there are signs on tables with a QR code to scan and leave an E- tip.

Looks like a Greek Island.

If you thjink the service is of a high standard then mention the person by name on your post cruise survey and include why. This can be of greater benefit than a couple of extra dollars in the hand as the information is used when assessing promotion.