les37b

Given your comparison opinion is based on personal experiences of travelling recently on both, I’d suggest it’s more valid than from those that haven’t. (Which includes myself as I’ve never been on Crystal.)

I had one of those dodgy emails claiming my computer had been hacked and all my contacts known and they would be forwarding my porn site history and web cam footage they’d captured of me. Seem this nonsense lots of times, but this one was different. The claims were still complete BS, but it was the fact it was sent to my email address and FROM my email address. I couldn’t work out how that could be faked, especially as it WAS showing in my sent folder. Got to the bottom in the end and the headers revealed the IP address was from Medelin. I use google mail as my catch all account. I have a personal domain I use and I can send or receive inside this account. However, there was a password breach - but it was with the domain host and simply changing the password with their webmail which was what they used blocked it off. Took ages to work out how they did it, but as always, there is an explanation. Needless to say, no funds were transferred to a banned word digital currency as per instruction, or contacts contacted and their ability to post from my domain blocked off. As to the OP, as suggested, check the headers and change your passwords. I recommend using something like Bitwarden to manage them and enable you to use full strength passwords without needing to remember them.

Ah, that’s interesting. I hadn’t realised there was a choice. Had I realised, we would have walked to the ship as well. Just assumed the coaches were because pedestrians weren’t allowed. Noted for future reference, though getting off, we’d need to locate where bags have been taken, so maybe the bus disembarking is easier unless you have your bearings (you see the ship on the way in!) Meanwhile my last sailing (Viking to Iceland - last month, where my planned and booked hike to the active volcano was cancelled as it stopped erupting 2 days before arrival.) - had a further setback! They’ve moved Triv from 4.45pm to 8pm saying it was better attended at that time. So it started just as we left the bar to go to dinner. Apparently it’s ship wide, so got this non event to look forward to next march too. PS … I just remembered that cruise I mentioned before was the bunny cruise! lol

I did a Barbados to Barbados in Jan this year and have a Ft Lauderdale to Barbados next Jan. We decided to board independently and still a bit clunky, once we boarded the transfer, we were on the ship and checked in 40 mins later. Leaving was a pain but it was just the addition of the bus to leave the ship that was the hassle. I agree the process at the port is not as convenient as it could be, but I’d swap that for the ordeal experienced at Ft Lauderdale airport security any day of the week. (And had to do it all again 2 days later because BA eventually cancelled our flight after waiting at the gate for 6 hours!) I genuinely felt that on the first time around, it just wasn’t worth the hassle. Being told I had to decant all the camera gear into individual trays (lots of them!), which I never got sight of again for about 20 minutes was frankly just awful and I simply had to hope other passengers hadn’t touched it while I had that long wait in line and then being frisked. Actually that was from a cruise we were both on, so you may even recollect the fiasco. It put me off for some time… and Mar 2019 to Jan 2022 was a fair recovery gap, though of course Covid was the culprit!

One is simply a reservation without commitment, the other is a confirmed booking. If SS ticketed at 270 days out and you decided to change to a different cruise, they’d be left with the bill to pay for a flight booked (not reserved) in your name. At 70 days you are liable to pay the full bill for your airfare plus an admin fee, so they wouldn’t be out of pocket if you decided to cancel. Once that deadline is breached you are filling committed to the fare and SS go ahead and ticket it. Should you wish, they will ticket earlier (something I have done on one occasion), but that full cost commitment will be amended from 70 days to the date it’s ticketed. Hope that helps the distinction and the reasons.

Each time I’ve sailed from Southampton recently, the traffic on entry to the port has been horrendous, partly because of other ships in port, but mostly because it’s not geared up for those numbers boarding. If arriving by Taxi and if you are on a meter, I’d walk the final few hundred yards if you are able to. Fingers crossed that traffic situation has now improved and would be useful for feedback if it’s the same now or improved. you have three other ships boarding and disembarking on the day and they are biggies!

Another vote for arriving at least the day before the cruise. We embarked and disembarked in Barbados 6 months ago. The airport is small and a little chaotic and when the planes arrive at the same time, expect a wait unless you book a speedy exit pass. Make sure you fill out your arrival paperwork, though if you forget, there are machines there for you to do it on arrival. Ironically I think that actually looked the quicker option as 95% had their paperwork. Boarding the ship is also a bit of a mare, as you will be registered and then wait for a bus to go inside the small port. They probably will give you a board time of 2pm, but the process will start at 1pm if you were to make your own way. Enjoy your cruise.

Curry also…. But several times we’ve had Beef Wellington prepared for us.

We arrived a couple of days before and stayed at the Osaka Imperial. On the morning of departure, I got up early and took the metro to shinosaka, then bullet train to Kyoto. It wasn't a sight seeing trip, but simply to tick the box for travelling on a shinkensen (which is highly recommended and cheap.) Obviously depending on the amount of luggage you have, I'd not be afraid to disembark and use public transport. The Osakako Station is about 150 yards from the berth and a change onto the Osaka Loop should be straight forward and on to Umeda for the Osaka Shinkensen station and bullet. I'd not want to do this by Taxi - it would cost a fortune and easily avoided. There is no warehouse district. If bot going on a coach or taxi, you would walk through the small shopping Mall. Use google maps to get around. Its superb. It will give visual directions as well as best carriage to board for your next stop on the metro. It was a joy to know we could find our way around such a huge city so easily. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Japan,+〒552-0021+Osaka,+Minato+Ward,+Chikko,+3+Chome−11−8+８…+Tempozan+-+Osaka+Cruise+Terminal/Kyoto+Station,+Kyoto+Station+Building,+Higashishiokoji+Kamadonocho,+Shimogyo+Ward,+Kyoto,+Japan/@34.7927391,135.4406983,10.69z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m5!1m1!1s0x6000e88cb26e751f:0xeab85412afcb6e95!2m2!1d135.4312234!2d34.6567051!1m5!1m1!1s0x600108ae918b02ef:0xb61a446e74a21c08!2m2!1d135.7587667!2d34.985849!3e3!5i1?authuser=0&entry=ttu Missing out of touring Kyoto was the only regret on my trip, but I really just didnt have the time to see Osaka AND Kyoto. You'll have a whale of a time.

That's quite ok. The info you posted is a good reminder to all. With the exception of my maiden flight back in 2015, which I thought was within the rules and in open parkland. Unfortunately it was a Royal Park and any flying objects are just banned! Ooops! It was a long time ago and the police even watched me fly, so way before it became common. Most of my flights tend to be over water. I rarely go over buildings, even though its completely legal. Just not worth the hassle. Sea and wide rivers are just dandy - and any error is a costly one. I try not to make any. This will be my first Volcano drone adventure, though I have taken up Etna with me, but with 35-40mph winds, not a chance of flying.

Did the Ghan in March 1984 when it was reopened with the grand name "Alice to Wonderland" with a first class berth travelling from Alice to Sydney to end my grand (land) voyage loop up the East coast by air and car to Cairns, back down to Townsville, unscheduled 3 night stop in Mount Isa due to flash floods, then coach to Alice. Absolutely fantastic way to travel and highly recommended, though the costs will be extensionally higher than the fare I paid, which Australian Railways gave me a BR employee at the time, virtually a free ticket, with only the berth and food to pay for at a discounted rate. Still enough though to put a dampener on getting over to New Zealand before returning home after my 7 months away trip. My over riding memory of the scenery from the train is its very red!

Yes, it is a public area, There is a mini shopping area there and a big wheel which will give you super views of your ship directly below. (Yes it really is that close.) There is also a sea aquarium a short stroll away from the berth too. This is of course assuming you are berthing at Osaka and not Kobe-Osaka, which as it sounds, is actually in Kobe. We visited a day before we sailed using an Osaka pass giving us free transport access and entrance to multiple attractions, including the big wheel and was superb value for money, particularly if you buy a 48 hour pass. Where that small ship is berthed is where your ship will be and is overlooked by the big wheel at Tempozan. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tempozan+-+Osaka+Cruise+Terminal/@34.6558656,135.4308537,17.63z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x6000e88cb26e751f:0xeab85412afcb6e95!8m2!3d34.6568853!4d135.4311981!16s%2Fg%2F11b6dxc14r?authuser=0&entry=ttu

Always advisable to check country restrictions, particularly with tourist areas you are likely to want to use at. Something I always do and governs if I bother to bring my drone with me. I left behind for Alaska and Japan and also ABC Islands. Despite being allowed to fly in Japan, there were too many hoops. Caribbean was mostly too close to the airport, so decided it wasn't worth bringing. Iceland is on the other end of the scale and their rules relatively relaxed outside of the airport areas. Luckily, my drone is also sub 250gms removing most restrictions, though the obvious still need to be complied with. (ie airports and prohibition notices- which were very evident in Japan and verified it was a good choice not to bring.) At the volcano site, there aren't really any restrictions outside of height, near people, staying clear of the helicopters should there be any and line of sight. (The later in this location does seem to be ignore from how it looks.) Flying over hot rocks and lava is of course entirely at the pilots risk and I have witnessed a "volcano burial", which was a deliberate act after it was damaged by heat in the previous flight. Quite poignant in a strange way hearing the pilot say his farewells. If all goes well I will post the results.

Windscribe has always worked for me on all SS ships.

Thanks, that wasn’t something we had factored for. The volcano tour I had originally booked was on embarkation day but meant we wouldn’t arrive at the ship until about 7 in the evening, which didn’t seem a good idea. The one we have now, is the previous day not long after we arrive. Obviously we will need to find our way there. Had we stuck with the first booking, they would have dropped us off at the terminal. Hopefully the hotel can assist.

I just looked at your link for my sailing and noticed it returns to Korngarðar, though it’s right next to Skarfabakki so odd it has a different name. We are staying close to the Harpa, so too far to walk (with cases). It’s been 9 years since my only other visit and had a car then, so didn’t use any buses or taxis. I saw that you can’t use a CC to pay on a bus (cash and right amount only), but do you know if CC payments are accepted in taxis? I’ve a feeling it’s the same. Only one week to go now before we fly. Due to get to the hotel by midday and we’ve booked an afternoon / evening trip to trek to the hill top to overlook the active volcano which seems to be in full flow for 2 weeks and no signs of stopping. Hoping to capture some drone footage and get back safely without melting. (Me and the drone! lol) Been to Sicily numerous times hoping to see Etna erupt, but a puff of smoke is the best I managed. I shall also get a port side window seat on the flight which similarly should if not cloudy, give good aerial views of it from the plane. OP, not sure when July 2024 schedules are published, but at least you have a couple of options to look up the info.

Post what your cruise is and I’m sure cruise mapper or what’s in port will provide that info. Likely to be Skarfabakki Cruise Pier, which we sail from with Viking in 2 weeks. I’ve not sailed from Reykjavik with SS and there is a second alternative I’ve noted that Silver Wind uses.

Our March sailing on Dawn, we were concerned with the transfers for our 20.00 flight. I was told, it was that or a straight transfer to the airport only. About 5 or 6 days before departure we were given an 8am departure and midday airport arrival. While at GS I overheard a guest complaining about her departure and was told of one which arrived at 16.00 and included lunch. I then inquired and learned there were 3 different options. We managed to get transferred onto the better option for us, but wasn’t impressed we’d been misinformed about options when we got allocated a poor choice for us. (Hanging about at Barbados airport for 8 hours is no fun at all.) So in answer to your question, yes they can be flexible, but it really isn’t a given and don’t take their first answer on what they can do. Good luck.

I did see mentioned that Northern lights would be visible in Northern UK last week I think. Most unusual this time of the year! My only visit to Iceland got a glimpse of them for about 5 seconds in really cloudy skies in 2014. edit - found the link. https://news.sky.com/story/aurora-borealis-northern-lights-could-be-visible-in-the-uk-tonight-12916451 Im off to Iceland in 4 weeks. The news that the volcano on the southern tip near Keflavik erupted today, which put me into action to book a refundable excursion on embarkation day. Will be flying the drone over for certain if its still going then.

I’ve pretty much always booked a GTY Vista for the Muse class ships (probably 7 in total including several eventual Covid cancellations) and have probably been assigned a few weeks after booking which mostly has been at least 18 months out. My next sailing now, is Jan 2024 on Dawn, which I booked Jan 2022. I knew my assignment (veranda upgrade) in March 2022 and has remained the same number since that date. I’ve no idea why this has been the case each time, but suspect it’s my SS consultant who I’ve used since 2015 giving it a helping hand. He’s now been promoted and I expect my newly assigned one won’t be so forthcoming. It’s not something I’ve “expected” and to be honest, whilst grateful it’s been done, it wouldn’t be a problem if done much later. So the ship may well be left to assign near boarding time, but it certainly isn’t how it must be done or at least not from personal experience.

On our Muse cruise last month, Aussie guests had been given by Silver Air, Anchorage > Portland > LA > Singapore > Sydney They weren’t too happy about that BTW… you probably remember my concerns re connection times in Seattle. Our flight had a scheduled 2h40m connection and friends we met, had 1h10m …. Both made it with plenty to spare. No bag collection or extra security / passport control to go through…. But no passport stamp either.10 mins from getting off plane to arriving at next gate. Most impressed.

That's assault on my eyes! .

Sounds like a lame excuse to me. I can understand if one of the heaters stops working - but all of them! That's a wiring issue. Maybe they are wanting the Fincantieri shipbuilders on a call out from Ancona?

Friends of ours (my wifes partner in crime when she was quarantined last year on the Moon), boarded yesterday. They managed to get the train ride from anchorage to Seward that we missed and said it was excellent. They also did the Seward Whale waiting boat ride that we did in the harbour and was lucky enough at one point to be surrounded by a pod or Orca. We saw Porpoise on ours, which they didn't. I expect there is a connection! Hoping they get the good weather we didnt get when we sailed in a couple of weeks ago from Japan.

Then that is something that has definitely been changed as it was certainly spelled out (March 2019) that if I didn't transfer the deposit into a booking, my discount option would be lost and I'd receive a refund in full. (ie no penalties)