worcestergal

Thanks, @franski . Do you happen to recall the name of the guide you hired?

No card room on Venture and no organized bridge games. You will have to look for a social, pickup game.

Yes, we are getting to Hanoi a few days before starting the Scenic package. We will need time to adjust after the crazy long flight and I want some time to experience Hanoi. Our plan is to hire a private guide for a couple of days.

I also read everything @terry&mike had to say about their experiences. It sounded absolutely amazing! (I have even gone back and reread it a couple times…just to feed my anticipation for our trip) 😉. We are doing a Scenic land/cruise package, starting with time in Hanoi then HaLong Bay, before flying to Siem Reap for a couple of days before getting on the boat. @markperth I am very much looking forward to your comments.

Looking forward to hearing about your trip. We are scheduled for this cruise in March. Are you going to Hanoi as part of your trip with Scenic?

Yes. However, as I mentioned in my post, there hasn’t been any activity on the roll call. So, I figured I would post here since this forum gets so many more views.

We will be on Sojourn from Monte Carlo to Barcelona starting on October 4. I am trying to plan out what we are going to do on this very port-heavy cruise. We will be doing a couple of the Seabourn excursions, but I normally like to plan our own experiences. And, I’m looking for some others to join us. In La Ciotat, on October 12, I want to arrange a 3-hour kayak trip in the Calanques National Park. Nothing like this is offered by Seabourn. However, the outfitter has a minimum requirement of 4 people (and we are only 2). Unfortunately, the roll call for this cruise is not active, so I figured I would ask here. If you’re going to be on this cruise and are interested, please let me know. Thanks, Barb

Where is the Carrivagio exhibit. We will be in Malta in October on our Monte Carlo to Barcelona cruise and I would love to see it. Thanks!

I was on Venture in a cabin with an adjoining door. I will avoid that in the future. We could hear the people next door - not loudly, but could definitely hear them through the door. I have only been on Venture once, so I can’t compare this experience with a non-adjoining door cabin.

Wow! Thank you so much for such a thorough and fascinating review. I feel like I was right there with you!

Thanks so much, @ikesyd . I really like your suggestion about Hanoikids and I will check out that group.

Thanks so much, @gnome12. Those museums look quite interesting. I will also check out the La Siesta. Barb

Thanks so much, @vada_9 and @terry&mike! I love the idea of a cooking class and a street food tour (kind of a theme, there, I think 🤔). I will also check out the Sinfonia hotel. @terry&mike, I followed your report on your trip while you were posting and I’ve actually gone back to reread it. It has me really looking forward to our trip!

Thanks, @margbem . I will check it out.

Next March, we will be taking The Scenic “Highlights of Cambodia, Vietnam and Luxury Mekong” trip. Since it is such a long flight to Vietnam, we plan to arrive in Hanoi several days before the Scenic trip begins. Now I’m looking for suggestions on how to make the most of a couple of extra days in Hanoi. First, hotel recommendations would be great. I really don’t want to spend the over $500 per night for Scenic’s hotel there! Second, I would appreciate suggestions for things to do or sights to see which are not included in the Scenic itinerary and would be great to introduce us to the city (and help with the expected jet lag). I did reach out to a guide from Tours by Locals, but her proposal would have us doing more travel to areas outside Hanoi and, after a 22-hour flight, that doesn’t sound like a good idea! Thanks.

Thanks so much for your report. It sounds like Emerald did a great job! we are doing the Scenic Mekong trip next March and I hope that we enjoy it as much as you did yours. Just wondering…were there any excursions between Siem Reap which were particularly impressive?

@isnowman - Thank you so much for commenting on your trip. We are booked on Scenic next March for the 18 Mekong trip (Hanoi to HCM City) and your note made me even more excited about it. I was wondering if you could give me a bit more info about what kind of clothes you brought and about the various excursions. Thanks!

The Radisson Blu was one of the worst hotels I’ve ever stayed in. I think that I did comment about it on CC when we got home from that trip. Be happy you don’t have to stay there. I’m sure it is 50 lbs per bag. And, don’t be concerned about the one carryon. Almost everyone had both a carryon and a second “personal” bag (like a pocketbook or camera bag). Seriously, the whole scene at the airport was truly a mess (you’d think it was the first time there had ever been a charter flight!). There were also major issues with getting from the hotel to the bus to the airport. I hope that you have a much, much easier time of it.

When we took the charter flight from Reykjavik to Greenland last September, it was two checked bags plus a carryon. We were told about size and weight limits for the carryon, but that was never checked. Just be aware, our charter flight was VERY basic. Although we had been given seat assignments, those also were never checked. We were super happy to get off the plane! However, Venture more than made up for the hassles getting there.

We, also, use TMobil overseas and find the text and data excellent. I recommend, though, using WhatsApp for calls. Just make sure that your contacts have that app on their phone. I’ve found that outside the US and Canada, everyone seems to use it.

Thanks. I will plan on that kind of timing.

Do you know how far in advance you can do your eVisas?

Welcome home to you both! I must tell you again how much I’ve enjoyed all the descriptions and photos of your trip. I’m sure I will return to your blog many times as I look forward to our SE Asia trip with Scenic in March 2024. Thank you again for sharing your trip!

What an amazing experience you’re having! It’s been such a vicarious treat for me. 😁 What will you be doing when you get off the ship? Are you doing Scenic-lead activities in HCMC?

I am really enjoying your descriptions and photos. It looks like such a fabulous adventure!