FourthQ

2 hours ago, Carnevale said:

Thanks to everyone posting on this thread - great suggestions!  Here are a few I'll add to the list:

 

- EarPlanes: If you get a stuffed up head or are sensitive to air pressure changes and have to fly, these are a must have. They are small plastic ear plugs you use during take off and descent to equalize the pressure in your head. I never fly without a pair and while I have rarely had to use them, when I did need them they worked very well. www.earplanes.com 

 

 

EarPlanes!! Brings back memories. When I was a child (many moons ago) the few neighbors fortunate and wealthy enough to fly would come back with cotton stuck in their ears. They would explain it was to prevent ear pain while flying, and wear it like a badge for several days after arrival home.

Thank you robthens, CPT Trips and Ashland. You are helping a novice cruiser.

Great photos and commentary, thanks! I will be referring back to these closer to the cruise.

6 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

About a 99% chance port stop in San Juan del Sur will be cancelled.   Nicaragua and US having political issues and the country having rampant violence.  To date all scheduled port calls cancelled including Emerald Princess on the prior cruises.

Well, that would be a shame, as we look to learn about countries not represented in our daily "news" outlets. Thanks for the heads-up.

Thanks to all who replied. Your help makes us feel more comfortable with this cruise plan.

Thank you skynight, appreciate you took the time to read my post and share your knowledge

Re-posting this from a different forum as advised.

We are relatively new to cruising (one cruise 10 years ago) and have booked a trans-Panama Canal cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles on Emerald Princess. 

We see shore excursions offered by the ship at Cartagena, Fuerte Amador, Puntaarenas, San Juan del Sur, Huatulco and Puerta Vallarta. We have been to Puerta Vallarta twice and know enough to get around on our own. Looking for advise on whether it would be worthwhile to book shore excursions at the other ports through (1) the cruise line, (2) go on our own, or (3) stay on ship. 

Second question- we have booked a Balcony cabin. Princess is offering upgrades. The one which I might consider is an upgrade to Club Class Mini suite which offers Club class benefits. Are club class benefits worth $500/pp upgrade? We will be OK with the amount of space in our current cabin, but looking for advise on the other benefits of an upgrade.

Thanks

Thank you Eassiemom, will follow your recommendations.

Greetings. We are relatively new to cruising (one cruise 10 years ago) and have booked a trans-Panama Canal cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles on Emerald Princess. 

We see shore excursions offered by the ship at Cartagena, Fuerte Amador, Puntaarenas, San Juan del Sur, Huatulco and Puerta Vallarta. We have been to Puerta Vallarta twice and know enough to get around on our own. Looking for advise on whether it would be worthwhile to book shore excursions at the other ports through (1) the cruise line, (2) go on our own, or (3) stay on ship. 

Second question- we have booked a Balcony cabin. Princess is offering upgrades. The one which I might consider is an upgrade to Club Class Mini suite which offers Club class benefits. Are club class benefits worth $500/pp upgrade? We will be OK with the amount of space in our current cabin, but looking for advise on the other benefits of an upgrade.

Thank you pavementends. Gadventures has a nice website, and as you say I can filter results to narrow choices.

Thank you rimmit. Appreciate the wise reminder that our plans are just that, and weather and heavens dictate what happens. In another thread on these boards, someone had recommended a website "traveltothepoles", and that site echoes your advice on the size of ship.

Thank you 2552phxcrzr! That is helpful. I am not familiar with Quark or Oceanwide, will look them up. Leaning toward Lindblad at this time, hopefully for Jan/ Feb 2023.

My first post here, please be patient with me. I have only one cruise so far, and that too nearly 10 years ago.

We hope to retire in 2022 and would like to celebrate by going on a cruise to Antarctica. Specifically, we want a cruise that offers excursions from ship to land on Antarctica or nearby islands. Not a sail-by cruise.

I have looked at websites from Oceania, Seabourne, National Geographic/ Lindblad, Viking, Regent and Silversea. It is clear Viking and Lindblad offer Zodiac trips/ hikes on land, but others do not seem to specify. Would someone help us with their experience and knowledge? We are English-speakers and would like to stick to a line where that is the primary language.

Apologies if this has been answered before, I am just getting familiar with the Boards here.