Manchester is blue

Someone has suggested Alaska for Christmas. Are they having a laugh? Having done Alaska numerous times and become bored with its tiresome commercialisation, one would have though Christmas would be a time to escape all of that… I’m confident you’ll find Norway a far more relaxing and in fact prettier environment should you choose a cold weather escape.

Happy cruising 😁

Firstly, In my opinion, if it’s a choice between a balcony or premium flights, I’d take a balcony cabin, particularly given the cruise you are considering are in warm weather environments. Premium seats on the Dreamliner are very nice, although they last only for the duration of the flight, wheres

as a balcony that you can enjoy for two weeks, to me, is a better way to spend your cash.

You should understand that Far East ports are often very far away from the destinations you want to visit and can involve very lengthy coach transfers. This does allow for a spot of sightseeing from your bus windows, but it’s worthy of note as this May feed into your decision making. 
Just to throw a curve ball in, have you looked at Fred Olsens offerings over Xmas. Up into the arctic, sailing from UK ports? May be of interest??

Which ever you choose, hope you enjoy. 

3 hours ago, the penguins said:

Always happy to help a fellow Brit even if you do support a team that plays in the wrong colours - up the Gunners!

You can tell from our Roll Call name how much we enjoyed the Antarctica, If you need any other help, tips etc please email us. geoffanita at hotmail dot com. 
Geoff and the boss (Anita). 
PS: all the pics I attached were taken by the Boss. Geoff.

Yes, right up the gunners indeed 😂😂

The itinerary is most certainly one that I and my own boss have been umming and ahhring about for some time.   Of course, ultimately,I’ll do as I’m told, however, really do quite fancy this itinerary. Your photos have only served to whet the appetite. 
Many thanks for your advice and offer of further help.. Most kind indeed.

Best wishes for the remainder of the season too. 
Cheers mate.

15 hours ago, Tinkbelle87 said:

Celebrity cancelled the 2024-2025 South America season. 2025-2026 sailings go on sail Dec 5.

 

We're taking Eclipse out of Buenos Aires in January 2024 so no tips yet but will have some when we return I'm sure.

I didn’t know that. Thank you

17 hours ago, the penguins said:

A pleasure. When comparing the scenic cruising experience provided for example by Celebrity, Princess, HAL etc with an expedition cruise Hurtigruten, Silversea you really are comparing chalk and cheese.

The Penguin pics shown by Celebrity etc are all taken in South America or the Falklands not on the Peninsular.

Icebergs: Scenic cruising you look down and don’t get very close.

Expedition you look up and get much closer- touching distance during landings 

Expedition cruising breaks down further between ships that are “basic” with the entire emphasis on the adventure (eg Hurtigruten) and ships that are “luxury” but still with the landings (eg Silversea).

The season splits in 2 early (Nov/Dec) late Feb/March.

 Main differences:

Early: more snow, more difficult landings lots of baby penguins/seals, and good chance of whales,

Late: less snow landings on rocks, juvenile penguins and seals, less chance of whales.

King penguins breed all year so it doesn’t matter.

We did Feb/Mar.

Hope this helps 

 

Yes, it really does help inform my decision making. Thanks for taking the time. Appreciated.

19 hours ago, the penguins said:

We have been twice once on Celebrity and once on Hurtgruten (an expedition ship).

Provided you accept that X only gives you a "panoramic "cruise then go and enjoy.

If you want the "real" experience where you land and mingle with the wildlife then book an expedition type cruise and, if at all possible, include South Georgia where you will get to see (and smell) 10's of thousands of King Penguins.

You will never regret the extra costs.

No right or wrong just choices.

What wonderful photos.mThanks for your advice and for sharing the photos.

My wife and I have targeted an Antarctica cruise with Celebrity for 2025.

I notice that this itinerary has not yet been advertised, which seems a little late to me.

I wonder if anyone knows when the 2025 itinerary may be made available please. I am aware that this year, and 2024 it sails from Buenos Aries.

Also has anyone enjoyed this cruise in earlier years and can you offer advice / tips please .

Regards 

9 hours ago, Wacktle said:

Do you have a preference between Tripadvisor and VIATOR? I was looking at booking direct with the airport because it seems to be a bit cheaper. Have you done it that way at all? I am a bit wary of the "reserve now and pay later" options on Tripadvisor and VIATOR. Is that the way you do it? If so, it must work?

Hi Wacktle, we have a blue light card so more recently use VIATOR as they sometimes give us a discount, but really it doesn’t matter, we have found both sites user friendly.

Regards

We have visited Jamaica many times,… well over 20 and fly via Montego Bay airport. It’s absolutely fine,  and in in my opinion quite a bitter more user friendly than Manchester, our local airport. 
Club Mo bay is great. We usually use it exiting Jamaica. We do not find it necessary for arrivals.

we book it via the link on Tripadvisor, but have also booked via VIATOR. Enjoy man.

Be cautious if considering a drinks upgrade. We upgraded on our last cruise on Discovery 2. We were seduced by the promise of several IPAs as well as several whiskeys, and nice gins. We were Very disappointed though as there was just one IPA available, one nice whiskey and from recollection, two gins. We felt absolutely cheated, and consider that the upgrade was mis sold to us as the items promised were simply not available. TUI blamed “supply” issues, and that may well be the case, but we should have been informed of supply issues before we parted with our money in order that we might have been given the opportunity to make an informed decision. From my understanding, our experience is not uncommon, and the numerous items listed on the upgrade package are rarely if ever,  all available. 

I’d strongly advise that you research tours independently offered. I’ve used VIATOR previously, but there are numerous other providers. My own experience of booking tours independently has shown me that I will have a far greater choice of tours, greater flexibility with much much smaller group sizes therefore offering a better time. They are usually a great deal less expensive than ship tours too and they will be available to book now. Give it a try. 

We went on the 17 night transatlantic cruise, from Palma to Montego Bay last year. 
There

 were ( from memory) two dress to impress nights, although no “white”, or “Bright” nights. The dress to impress nights were hardly observed with most people simply dressing as normal for their evening meals ,… smart casual. Although those that did dress to impress were not frowned upon in any way, so you should dress up if you choose to do so on your own cruise.

That’s really very helpful. I have cruised with Celebrity and Marella but not with P and O,.. thus far. I have only ever had a drink package on previous cruises but your advice regarding that is helpful to me so thank you..Just read Harryjacobs advice also,.. Thanks Harry, and it seems he is also singing from a similar song sheet.

Cheers guys, your advice is appreciated.

Thank you Selbourne. Seems a little unfair that I am “encouraged “to purchase an alcoholic drinks package for my non alcohol drinking wife,.. perhaps I’d be better to consider a pay as you go type arrangement rather than opt in to the packages.. pity really as I prefer to pay up front and not be worrying about what I’m drinking beyond the initial outlay.

Anyhow, thanks for your reply.

kind regards 

I drink, but my wife doesn’t. May I buy the alcohol package, whilst my wife has the no alcohol package?

15 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Yes we had the drinks package and found it perfectly adequate. The choice of beers and wines available were fine as were the soft drinks. I don’t tend to drink spirits so can’t comment on how good or otherwise they are.

Coffees and bottled water is not included which is a little annoying.

 

Any off package drinks were 50% off with some notable exceptions like coffee!

 

Fred is probably nearer to Marella with older ships, a decent basic drinks package and good daytime activities. I would say food on Fred is better than Marella but evening entertainment not as good imo. Fred passengers are older and probably more sedate than on Marella. The small ships get into interesting ports.

 

You can’t compare it to Celebrity in any way. It has none of the glitz of new ships or big stage production stage shows, no ice bars - definitely apples and pears.
 

I like Celebrity for the cruise experience and Fred for more for the unusual ports of call. If I am doing well trodden ports then I would pick Celebrity.

 

 

 

Thanks Eglesbrech.

On 3/28/2023 at 2:50 PM, Eglesbrech said:

Jean, we are just off Bollette and really enjoyed it.

 

The staff were lovely, the food was really good, lots of space in the lounges etc.. We never felt crowded or as if we were stuck in queues (other than for shuttle buses which took a while wiring in a lounge).

 

We booked the afternoon tea and it was lovely, held  up in the elegant observatory. Nice little sandwiches, cakes and scones so you could enjoy bites of all of them. £13 pp. ( standard afternoon tea available every day in the buffet which was also fine but not as nice).

 

We also booked both speciality restaurants and they were brilliant and at only £10 pp if booked in advance amazing value for the excellent product provided. That said the food in main dining was great, particularly the fish dishes which were excellent.

 

The cabins are a bit old fashioned but spotless and perfectly fine if you don’t spend a lot of time there. Lots of storage space.

 

I enjoyed the daytime entertainment on sea days and there was lots to do, quizzes, guest speaker talks, bowls, curling, etc etc. The cookery demos were informative and demonstrated the taste of the region so we got Norwegian dishes while up there then some of the items from the specialty restaurants on the last sea days.

 

If I’m honest the evening entertainment was a bit lame but that is a very subjective of course and just my opinion. Didn’t help that we had seen both the acts onboard before on other ships. Didn’t bother us as we were out watching the northern lights.

 

We have booked again so that tells a tale. Just ask if there is anything you want to know but I’m sure your friend has told all.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for this review.

we have never sailed with Fred, having sailed previously with Marella and Celebrity. We are now looking to change things up a little, and wonder if you are able to compare Fred against our other favourite lines.?  Also are you able to comment

 on Fred’s drinks package please, and if you have purchased the package, did you find it adequate for your holiday “needs” .?

We did the Transatlantic crossing in November on the Discovery 2. It was advertised as Adults only, and indeed there were only adults onboard.

We spent two weeks on a land based holiday in Cuba. We had no problems with US $$

We did the 17 day transatlantic in October 22. I agree with most recent  comments posted on Tripadvisor. 
 

Well done and god bless the crew ! Hope all those rescued are safe and well.

W spent two weeks on a land based holiday, a week in Havana, and the second week in Varadero.  I wouldn’t visit again, however if dealing with street vendors, taxi drivers etc,the US dollar is the currency you want,….If you are dealing with proper shops, bars, restaurants etc local peso.

5 hours ago, dmsw00 said:

Does anyone have any idea why the are just stopping testing for the month of October?  Is that to see if there is a spike in cases, giving them the option to reinstate testing should they see fit?

I also wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that another booster campaign began in September, thus helping to mitigate any risk?

Thanks for taking the time to reply Brummijam.

I do like the thought that your description conjures in my minds eye. 😀 
Cheers.

15 hours ago, Brummijam said:

Hi.MIB.

Yes crossed lines I think.🤦🏻‍♂️
In the bars and lounges the drinks waiters never keep you waiting for long when your glass is empty, they really are good.

Keep well.

Cheers Miller, Thank you.