ace2542

25 minutes ago, 57eric said:

From a US perspective, this is an exciting, positive development.

Till they shut Alaska down which they will do and then the Caribbean. And won't there soon be too many ships in the Caribbean. A more likely and sad development is Cunard axes a ship.

36 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Viking Cruises working to install hydrogen fuel cells on all their newbuild ocean ships

I saw these new ships. The solar sails which retract won't do squat for their power needs.

34 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Very possibly

And, yet, you continue to cruise.

Those regarding biofouling of the hull

Once again, ace, you have your facts wrong.  World wide TOTAL shipping (tankers, bulkers, container ships, ferries, cruise ships) amounts to 3% of total greenhouse gas production (so your number is wrong), and cruise ships account for less than 5% of total world shipping (so you are about an order of magnitude out).  The rest of the global transportation system (buses, trucks, cars, trains, airplanes) account for 17% of GHG emissions, yet 80% of the world's economy moves by sea.

 

And, finally, ships, including cruise ships are working to reduce GHG emissions, as witnessed by Viking Cruises working to install hydrogen fuel cells on all their newbuild ocean ships, and Royal Caribbean already having small scale hydrogen fuel cells on some of their ships.  Not to say these projects have hurdles to overcome, and years of development for safety standards, but the change is coming.  Might want to get out and read a bit before quoting figures.

But can these new techs generate the several GIG per day per ship though? AKA the power usage of Southampton in a day? QM2 uses to my knowledge the same amount of power that Southampton the city uses.

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

Which they would that be?

The governments of the world. It is coming. Cruise ships accounts for 5% of the CO2 and there is nothing they can do to reduce that.

6 hours ago, ratflinger said:

hmmm, maybe Australian environmental regulations?

They should ban cruise ships worldwide and get it over with

On 10/31/2023 at 7:15 PM, gavvy said:

Even more for less. Yay 

I will be removing mine and paying those who give me good service.

Do they get to keep that money though? Or does it HAVE to go into the general pot?

On 10/27/2023 at 5:29 PM, davecttr said:

No chance, what powers your smart phone, camera etc etc

Depends if these are the same batteries on these motorised wheelchairs or scooters the same as the ones in these bikes that are going on fire in houses? They are not going to risk that on an cruise ship cabin and if they stop customers from charging them up onboard what then?

On 10/17/2023 at 4:37 PM, jedclampett said:

Hi we’ve booked the world cruise on Arcadia 2025.we need to get estas for USA,but is this right if you have been to Cuba since 2021 (which we have) you need to have a face to face interview at the American embassy in London and pay $140 each for a visa?

Since you are doing a world cruise I take it are you of retiring age? So you will sail through the interview they just say so you have been to Cuba thanks for the honesty visa will come in a week or something like that. And your visa will probably be for TEN YEARS in length. You have time yet so why not make a nice weekend out of it do a bit of shopping a snag a monday morning appointment. I think the wait time is a few months though but you have got time but best to get it booked now.

1 hour ago, Snow Hill said:

Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus all expect to join VWP by 2025. 

A meaningless gesture considering the refusal rates for the visas, refusals which will lead to esta denial due to the B2 refusal at least a recent refusal -system refuses for a number of years apparently if you admit B2 denial - and more b2 denials due to esta denial and it becomes a cycle and then people have the problem of looking desperate. So perhaps not a reason for those countries to celebrate.

I wonder if they will ban lithum batteries and ergo mechnical scooters and wheelchairs. Which would end cruising for some people?

Lets hope they don't put have you ever been to Russia on that list because that will cause issue for a lot of people.

But as I have said in the Cunard section we should not be complaining and be grateful that the UK is on the Visa Waiver Program. Some EU countries are not you know.

On 10/18/2023 at 11:13 AM, KforKitty said:

I applied for our ESTAs yesterday and certainly one of the questions asks about recent travel to Cuba.  I do not know what happens if you say ‘yes’ but I would rather be honest and apply for the visa through the proper process than take the risk.

 

Catherine 

If you tick yes to that or any question I think it automatically rejects it.

12 hours ago, Poole Boy said:

-I would have thought that if an ETA was not granted, then the next step would be a visa. If some one had neither and the ship ( they) was going to Australia, then in all likely hood they would be denied boarding

So they could not sail so till the last port before Australia and then reboard after it left Australia?

5 minutes ago, Jetdriver787 said:

Was it a GTY that has now firmed up?

Not so far as I am aware. It was a solo cabin. I think I am just gonna pay all the money this week and not wait till Feb for the final due date

The only things that have changed are the invoice number and invoice date. A deposit has not been taken a second time.. The UK ATOL certificate was also sent this time. That was not sent last time.

On 10/20/2023 at 5:12 PM, Poole Boy said:

You should do what you can ahead of time, eg Australia, rather than wait until you are on the ship ( Its valid for a year). Jordan and Indonesia will be arranged by Cunard on the ship and charge the cost to you on board account.

Not that I am going on this voyage but just to ask the question outloud for the reference of others. What would happen IF the Australia ETA is denied? Traveller would need visa presumably? And presumably not be allowed to board at all?  Or could they board and just miss the Australia bits?

The invoice for the booking I made 3 weeks ago been RESENT to me this weekend? I got an invoice with a different booking date on from the first booking date. Why would this happen?

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

Isn’t Singapore one of very few ports outside the US where everyone has to do immigration? I believe they are very efficient, though.

I don't know I have never been there.

6 minutes ago, david63 said:

Some cannot (Singapore for example) as they can only be done a maximum of three days prior to arrival.

I tihnk the worst with that though would be you can't get off the ship in Singapore which is not the end of the world. Unlike U.S or Australia sections of the world cruise. Rejection/lack of possession of those documents would lead to being denied boarding and ergo refund would it not?

9 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Are you implying that somehow there might not be?🙂

Cunard's internet? Of course not 🤣

3 hours ago, hariseldon said:

We are looking forward to going on this World Cruise on QM2 in January 2024, as British passport holders we do not appear to need any visas prior to departing but there are requirements for Electronic Travel Authorities 72 hours before arrival.

 ETA for Australia, SG Card for Singapore , Online Embarkation form for Sri Lanka, possibly something similar for Jordan. (Indonesia looks a bit vague but looks like pay on arrival)

 

Wondered if anyone has done this recently or can advise, would you fill the forms in on the ship before arriving ( relying on ships internet ? ) or can you do it weeks before online in UK before we sail.

 

Any pointers appreciated.

I would do them from home in the UK if you can before boarding in case they are problems with the ships internet during the voyage.

15 hours ago, Catchum said:

Applying for an ESTA as a UK citizen is fast, cheap and painless. My next visit to the States is in December and I will apply a couple of weeks before. I always carry a paper copy and on one transatlantic voyage I was required to show it at check in or boarding would have been denied.

I don't book American travel without getting my ESTA approved and then I fit my travels into the 2 year approved cycle. Though I know of no reason for it to be denied and there is more than 99% it would not be I do feel I would not get the tourist visa if it was and would lose money on any travel booked that is my risk threshold.

As for boarding can't they view it the same way the airlines can. The airlines can see it on their computer.

39 minutes ago, FlyGal25 said:

I think our refund took 7-10 days to post on our credit card account. 

calender days or working days like week days?

I cancelled on the 11th Oct when it went cheaper for the Anthem T/A. BOTH payments have been taken out of my account but the cancellation has not yet been refunded.

The transatlantic crossing are nearly always unbroken sea days from departure to arrival. Every now and then there might be a call into Boston or Halifax. If not it is a straight week at sea. Very peaceful. Sea days are always more packed with things to do.