weeislayman

We have done what many others have done: booked and cancelled, booked and cancelled.

We have 3 booked at this time.  February 2022 14 day Caribbean with HAL.  As the weeks go by, this one seems less and less likely.  (As in less and less likely that we will be comfortable going).  Then we have a July 2022 NY to France on Oceania, which has a fabulous itinerary.  We are hopeful, but we'll see.

Then we have the 2023 WC with HAL.  That's too far off to be thinking about at this time.

I am beginning to think that if some warm, friendly, mostly Covid-free country opens up, then a land-based trip might be a better option.  We'll see....

I'll miss these ships.  They are a good size.  Not stupid big, but not too small.  Can always find a wee quiet spot somewhere to read.  In preparation for their demise, we are going to give Oceania a try.  For shorter cruises, Windstar's sail ships are great.

I'm not sure how HAL's wonderful Grand Voyages will be, once the last of the smaller ships go.....

 

We are booked on Oceania Insignia, New York to Paris, 32 days July 26-August 27, 2022.  It is a 46 day round trip.  We are doing half of it - getting off in France.  A great itinerary, including Greenland (3 stops), Iceland, Faroe islands, Orkney, Norway and St Petersburgh.

On 5/18/2021 at 9:50 PM, Sophie's Mom1 said:

We will either fly into La Guardia, or do the seven hour drive. In the past we have parked at the ferry parking garage in Weehawken and hopped a ferry into Manhatten. Cheaper and less stress. 

We are very excited about trying Oceania. Our experience has always been on mega ships, so this will be a nice change! Hopefully, it won't be rough sailing!

 

This is our first Oceania cruise also.  We will probably take the train from Ottawa to Montreal, then to New York.  Seems like a relaxing way to start the trip.

6 hours ago, chisoxfan said:

I plan to retire mid 2022 and a world cruise was certainly on our radar. I have to confess that as I looked seriously at these (2022/2023) I found some things less appealing. One specific to this post is the relatively smaller sizes of ships. On the surface I like the 'old school' feel of smaller ships but when I think of spending 70-120 nights on board I am concerned about the limited venues (dining, entertainment) compared to mid size and large ships. I was also struck by the unavoidable longer days at sea- this ties into my concerns about less to do on smaller vessels. I get it..... sitting all day on a beach or reading a book on my balcony is all good but not sure I will be able to do this for months on end.

 

In the end we booked a 28 day HAL summer of 2022 on Nieuw Statendam and I trust this will serve as a primer on how we can survive on board for a month on a newer and larger ship. As much as we love cruising my gut tells me we will be ready to get off in 28 days but we are excited at the prospect of a longer cruise and secretly hope it will push us towards some more extended itineraries.

We retired in 2015.  We had cruised a bit during our working life, the longest had been a 14 day Panama Canal cruise.

In 2015 we did a transatlantic, which we enjoyed.  The next year it was a transpacific.  Then a big chunk of a Grand South America.  Buenos Aires, round the Horn, and up to the Panama canal to FL.  Each one of these cruises being longer than the previous one.  Then we did a big segment of the 2019 WC.  Sydney to Amsterdam.  Loved it.  I was happy with each of these cruises, but not planning on doing anything longer.  But here we are...booked on the 2023 WC.  The whole thing.  I'm sure that it will be a one-off.  But who knows...

Point is, when we retire we have so much more time than we have ever had.  Just take the cruies step by step.  You'll find your own limit.  Just enjoy the ride.....:)

I think we need to be careful and not speculate or assume too much on this, folks.

The Canadian decision was based on a considerable amount of real world data from countries whose vaccination program was much more advanced than Canada's.  This included many studies conducted in Israel, the UK and the US among others.

Some studies even indicate that a longer interval can provoke an even stronger immune response than those indicated in the clinical trials.  These trials had been conducted in a very short period, so didn't have much to say about longer term effectiveness.

It wasn't just 'let's give this a try'.  Our health care system doesn't work that way.
 

At the end of the day, I don't believe that the Cruise Industry can afford another Diamond Princess scenario.  Out with those of us who enjoy cruising, there isn't a lot of sympathy for an industry that is seen as decadent, hard on the environment, and is very selective as to where it pays its taxes.

Cruise line executives will be well aware of the immediate costs of further outbreaks.  These immediate costs will pale in comparison to the long term costs. As such, I don't think that they will take unnecessary risks.  They will be aware that they won't be able to hide behind ignorance.  They will be expected to have learned many lessons from the results of the pandemic, including the 3.27 million deaths - almost 18% of which have occurred in the US alone.  Any further outbreak on a cruise ship will generate a tsunami of legal claims.

I think that they will proceed with an abundance of caution.

If they don't, those of us who may be uncomfortable will cancel and move on.

Just my 2 cents...

A link to info on American graves on Islay....

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-43948079

6 hours ago, knotheadusc said:

Thanks very much for reading and the extra information!

 

I long to go back to Scotland someday... when COVID-19 is no longer such a menace!  I would especially love to visit Islay and maybe stay there a week.  There are more distilleries to explore.

And there is much more than Uisge-Beatha on the island.  Celtic Crosses, standing stones, iron age forts.

Also the American Monument on the Oa and the graveyards of American sailors, a great many of whom perished when troop carriers sank off the Islay coast.

On 11/29/2019 at 8:30 AM, knotheadusc said:

Those of you who are interested in Hebridean's whisky cruises may want to have a look at these two posts I've written.  So far, my husband and I have been to 16 different distilleries, thanks to Hebridean Island Cruises.  We've been to two of those 16 distilleries twice!  I wrote these posts mainly because I live in a military community in Germany and a lot of Americans over here want to visit the distilleries while they have the chance. Since they're related to our cruises, maybe some of you will want to check them out, too.

 

Bear in mind, the first one was originally written in October 2017 for my original blog, which I have since moved.  

 

Part one  https://thetravelingovereducatedhousewife.blog/2017/10/15/whisky-distilleries-i-have-known/

Part two https://thetravelingovereducatedhousewife.blog/2019/11/29/whisky-distilleries-i-have-known-part-two/

Hi,
I enjoyed reading of your distillery visits.  Nicely written as well....

I live in Canada, but I am from Islay and would offer the following:

Ardnahoe distillery has begun production on Islay, adding to the many fine distilleries already there.  It is on the single track road to Bunnahabhain.

Feis Ile - the Islay Festival - takes place in May each year (except COVID years)....  It has morphed into a Whisky Festival, with distilleries producing special bottlings and providing entertainment and food.  The island gets overloaded with tourists for about 2 weeks.  Anyone planning to attend needs to book a year in advance.

Small thing...Laphroaig is not in Port Ellen.  There is a walking path that allows you to walk from Port Ellen and visit Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg.  Ardbeg's Visitor Center is very good. Lagavulin's Whisky is the best on the planet...:)

What else..Port Ellen distillery is planning to resume production after many years operating solely as a Malting processor.  Another distillery is being built between Port Ellen and Laphroaig.

Your advice on not driving is very sensible.

 

7 hours ago, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

On the HAL site, search Grand Voyages. Open the Filters menu, and choose ‘Inactive’.

That will bring up the segments. There is no pricing available on them, and you can’t book, but they do show up. 
We’re booked for the Singapore - Ft. Lauderdale segment of the 2022, or at least waitlisted. They needed to know the highest and lowest stateroom category we would take, and required a first payment somewhere north of $3000 to be on the list. We won’t get a price or a cabin until they know what’s available much later on.

First of all, thank you for that very helpful tip.  And also, your choice of segment looks very appealing....
Ronnie

Ziggo Sport Voetbal: Soccer channel seems to be the main Dutch football channel.  So, find a pub that has that.  No guarantees though.  Except that Celtic will win...:)