scapel

There is so much information here, I didn't know where to begin. Excuse me if I'm asking something that has been asked before. I'm sure it has, lol.

 

I was just doing my online check in for my cruise on September 2nd. I realized that my passport expires January 29, 2018. The RCI website "strongly suggests" that your passport be good for at least 6 months from your return date.

 

1) is current renewal time sufficient for me to renew now? Will I have my new passport on time?

2) will I have an issue since my check in is done? I think I would be able to go back and update the date and/or document number if needed, correct?

 

I know I should have thought of this sooner. I kept thinking the date it expired was more towards mid year, like June of 2018.

 

Thanks i advance.

Laurie,

I don't know how far you live from an actual passport office, but in New Orleans once I went directly to the Passport office and upgraded my passport and it was done in less than two weeks.

That is so helpful. I forgot that the cameras will need protection too.

 

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BTW- You only carry the Poncho folded up and put it only if you think you are getting wet. Yes it is hot with them on. Wet and hot or just hot your choice.

Seasickness - speak to your doctor about the most suitable remedy and try them out long before the trip so you can suss out any particular side effects.

This is a very important comment. Don't wait until you think you need seasickness medicine to take it. I have had people that were sicker with the patch on then off, so see how medicine affects you before you get on a ship. All medicines have side effects. Different medicines bother different people with side effects in different ways so know how Meclizine i.e makes you feel on land. How sleepy you get etc.

So I really want to go to Antarctica next winter, partly because I really want to step foot on all 7 continents, but I'm also a huge photographer. I loved the Galapagos for that reason (nature and wildlife). Price isn't a huge consideration, but I am still working, so time off is a problem.

 

I think I narrowed it down to two cruises. One is the vavilov "crossing the circle". It's 12 days, starts in the Falkands (for an afternoon) and flies from King George back. The second is ocean endeavor (I think) South Georgia, falkland and crossing the circle. It's 23 days (including xmas) and starts in Ushuaia.

 

Each have the same amount of time on the continent. Each has the ability to camp (if possible).

 

The vavilov is a smaller ship (<100) and is cheaper, and with a time frame where I wouldn't miss xmas, but probably wouldn't be too difficult to get off from work. Obviously, falklands and South Georgia are not really included, but I'd have a taste (and I can always go back and just do those).

 

The other ship has a private room (which is nice) but is obviously more expensive. And is 200 passengers. The length is possibly difficult to get off from work, and I would miss Christmas with my family. I also am prone to seasickness so the flight isn't my ideal, but neither is the boat. But it does include South Georgia which I've read is where the wildlife is.

 

 

 

Also, on a completely different question, the parka from the cruise lines, is it possible to get a non-down one? I'm highly allergic to down. Otherwise I'll have to find one in Arizona!

 

 

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What I did.

Antarctica

Antarctic Barbecue

I expect to get wet while exploring Iguazu Falls. So, who has advice on how to dress in a hot humid climate near the falls? A rain poncho seems like it would be so warm you'd sweat through your clothes and no poncho means you will be soaked by the spray. Bathing suit and cover up perhaps???

 

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Rain poncho probably the best. Mostly need to protect the cameras and sometimes you don't even get wet is you stay out of the spray.

Since photobucket has changed to an expensive paid subscription your photos are no longer viewable :mad:

All my photo bucket photos disappeared also, but I understand it must be for photo bucket to make money. I won't pay and Cruise Critic posters suffer.

Thank you for a great review. We will be doing the canal on the Seabourn Sojourn in November. We did the canal on the Seabourn Legend in 2008 but all the ports are different this time. We will definitely be contacting Dora and Gio Tours. Bad news about Puerto Chiapas. Unfortunately I'm not able to see your photos--something about update for third party hosting. Can you tell me what to do so I can see them.

 

Many thanks.

Hello,

I always enjoy when people put where they are from since when I remember having a good vacation in their city I tend to want to post back.

I have been looking around at PC post since we plan a 3rd in Jan 2018.

www.TomsPortGuides.com

Find the port guide on PC--Great info if you don't have it yet

Read Path Between the Seas and Panama Fever both drudgery books, but maybe you might find my outline I posted somewhere.

We had such fun riding snowmobiles in Winter Park area

Links you might like are listed FYI

You are giving out some really poor information here and it's not surprising the poster is confused. They have booked an inside GTY cabin and the bottom line is they may not have a cabin number allocated much before they sail (see posts above). Talking about upgrades is irrelevant too. They don't apply to GTY bookings.

 

Phil

Phil,

This was my original post:

"Joe,

I use a travel agent that sends me an invoice with all the particulars of fees, insurance, deposits and date of final payment. When she books this she has a cabin number and it is on that invoice along with the booking number which you need to do the online information. Of course you can't print anything until final payment, but you should have your cabin number. If you have just book standby for an upgrade, you may not get that cabin number until final payment. I always have a booked cabin and on standby for upgrade, but I pay for the upgrade, it is not complimentary. If you use a TA ask them. I have always used a TA since they can get better communication service with the cruise lines than I can get directly. They have their go to person with different cruise lines and I would just get pot luck if I called. ":

==================================================

My statement in blue must be the GTY.

I have re-read it and still don't see where I am putting out bad information. I am old and a little senile, and sometimes need to have something explained better in detail. I certainly would not want to put out poor or bad information or confuse anyone.

There's a certain plural feline on another forum who has been trying to get people to stop calling the old Renaissance fleet 'R-ships' – similarly without success. R-ships they are, and R-ships they will stay. [And long may they wave ;p]

OK, I call them Ren- Ships, but "R" is good.

Hi Scapel, Many of us old-timers still use the term GTY for a special fare booked without a specific stateroom or suite number assigned. It's a way for Inventory Managers to fill the ship and still have some flexibility in berthing everyone in the category of their choice, or higher. We do still offer these fares, but on our website we use the promotional name Book-Pay-Save. Here's a link to our web page with more information and the voyages it's currently offered on. https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/luxury-cruise-deals/book-pay-save

Bonnie,

Thanks. What do the letters GTY actually stand for. Might help remembering. I knew this existed, but did not know it had a name. Guaranteed Booked Cabin..GBC-- Would be good description.

You are giving out some really poor information here and it's not surprising the poster is confused. They have booked an inside GTY cabin and the bottom line is they may not have a cabin number allocated much before they sail (see posts above). Talking about upgrades is irrelevant too. They don't apply to GTY bookings.

 

Phil

Sorry Phil,

didn't know what a GTY booking was.

@scapel - yes we used a TA for booking, and we got the confirmation for the deposit.

But i dont want to call them every day to ask about the stateroom ;-)

Im okay with waiting, i just wanted to know how to find the number of the stateroom when it is fixed.

email TA. That works for me, maybe it will for you. TA are worth everything they do and it doesn't cost us, the customer anything for their efforts. I'm surprised you have made a deposit and don't have a cabin number that you have made a deposit on. Do you have the type of booking where you are guaranteed a cabin, but don't know where it is when you put down a deposit?

Thanks a lot to everyone. But it does not work. I guess they did not give us a number already. so will have to wait.

But becouse of your helb i know where i have to look for it.

Did you use a travel agent to book the cruise or book directly with the cruise line. Did you get an invoice showing confirmation you made a deposit?

I am a little confused...

Where will I see the cabin number we get? We booked a GTY Inside stateroom for the quest on 14th of October,

On the "my azamara" it says like below. Will this change when they give us an Stateroom?

Sorry for this "stupid" question, its our first azamara cruise, rccl and celebritys is more clear about this.

 

Thank You!!

 

 

 

Tuscany & Rivieras Voyage Onboard Quest

Sailing on 14-Oct-2017

Status: Confirmed

Reservation No: 33XXXXX

Guests: 0Total Charge: N/A

Joe,

I use a travel agent that sends me an invoice with all the particulars of fees, insurance, deposits and date of final payment. When she books this she has a cabin number and it is on that invoice along with the booking number which you need to do the online information. Of course you can't print anything until final payment, but you should have your cabin number. If you have just book standby for an upgrade, you may not get that cabin number until final payment. I always have a booked cabin and on standby for upgrade, but I pay for the upgrade, it is not complimentary. If you use a TA ask them. I have always used a TA since they can get better communication service with the cruise lines than I can get directly. They have their go to person with different cruise lines and I would just get pot luck if I called.

On our last cruise on Azamara we were kicked out of our Club Ocean Suite and upgraded to the Owners Suite which we did not want and they did not ask our permission to do that nor did they communicate to my TA about it, which I think they should have. I liked the forward viewing cabin. I was angry that they didn't ask permission to do that and was disappointed that they did it, but my wife told me to shut up and not make a scene. Move to the stern and keep peace in the family.

I met a lady that booked her cabin a year in advance so she got the cabin close to the washing machines. I'll bet she didn't want an upgrade either if it took her away from the washing machine.

Not many special gin palaces beyond the Arctic Circle....but I've found a way to post a few pics

 

Bergen

 

 

Flam

 

 

Geiranger

 

 

Tromso

 

 

 

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Are you still using Photobucket or do you have a new way?

I use that site to check availability and choose a cabin. The last 2 cruises I booked, the available cabins were not accurate.

I have been sailing with Celebrity for 17 years and have found that Miami and the ships do not communicate well.

Unfortunately, here is an example of where a technical person has either not read the USCG Safety Notice, or not understood it's full implications, nor explained it correctly.

 

The USCG Safety Notice mentions two problems with consumer power strips with surge protectors. One is the presence of surge protectors, which are not required on ships (not a single one is used for the multitude of ship's electronics, including the navigation and engineering automation systems), and which can fail and cause a fire due to reverse voltages.

 

The second problem comes about with even a typical US consumer power strip, even without a surge protector, or what the Safety Notice calls "inexpensive" power strips. These power strips have a circuit breaker only on one leg of the power circuit (the "hot" leg), but assume that the other leg (the "neutral" leg) is at the same voltage as ground, so there is no need to interrupt this wire when an overcurrent situation happens (short circuit). Because on ships, the "neutral" leg is not at the same voltage (potential) as ground, in a short circuit situation, current can continue to flow in the neutral wire even if the "hot" leg has tripped the circuit breaker.

 

This is what the electrician meant about "inexpensive" power strips, but while they are a small danger, the ship's circuit breaker is a two pole breaker and will protect the wiring even if the power strip doesn't. The better alternative is to use a "European" 220v power strip, which typically has a circuit breaker on both legs.

 

However, while the danger from a single leg circuit breaker in a consumer power strip is relatively minor, the danger from a surge suppressor is far greater, and this electrician should not have allowed the power strip to be used. Here is a post from a CC member, who questioned my insistance that surge protectors not be used onboard ships, who had an electrical engineering background, and who went and did research and posted his findings and his support of my stance:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48102515&postcount=10

Question for the electrical engineer.

If one uses a 220/110 step down voltage regulator on a European plug can it be safe to plug in a 110 US type extension cord 14G even if not on a ship.

Not unless she shells out $400/year to Photobucket, the photo hosting site. They recently changed their terms of service and one can't upload photos to a third party site like CC without paying what I consider to be a ridiculous amount of money.

Well, they did that to me also, but they will not get $400/yr. Well getting greedy and going for the big bucks rather than using all the little guys and making millions with a legitimate lower charge, Could hurt this company. Certainly put a bad taste in my mouth for photo bucket. Maybe there is something I don't understand.

Stoli Elit is better than most.

 

Phil

Ok, I am going to my daughter's house next week in New Orleans and will go looking for a bottle of Vodka. I typed Stoli in Google and got the 10 most expensive vodkas in the world. If I paid more than $100 on a bottle of Vodka she would say. Give me the $100 and I will buy some Grey Goose. Wow $5000 for one bottle of Vodka. That could make a person quit drinking. I would be afraid to try. I might like it.

Try Martin Millers. Really different. Also a new one called Silent Pool in a gorgeous turquoise bottle.

 

 

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Thanks, I didn't know that after we through all that tea overboard you would let us have any of the good gin.

Food talk...

 

Here´s a video compilation of (almost) all the BLU menus and loads of food pics - some taken on this cruise:

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

.

Thanks for the Great Video, but caution. Do not watch while hungry. Be sure and make it an after dinner movie to watch.

Wow, say what you like about Regent, we have always gotten lots of warmth and personal attention! Never had Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire is too bland for me. I just like Gordon's, but how about Hendricks? It's really high-end I think.

Gordon's is too rough for me. Now Hendricks we can definitely agree on. Just a little different flavor that the Sapphire, but very smooth.

This may be off topic, but I enjoyed someone else's report on their opinion on other cruise lines.

First the Millennium is still my favorite cruise ship mostlybecause I have a history with her since 2000. The Penthouse Suite I must sayhas as good a service as any ship I have been on including Azamara andSilversea. Everything is as it should be. Butler, cabins steward and concierge at your personal service and ofcourse you are recognized and the captain or a staff officer attends (ifinvited) any parties you give in the suite. Of course the regular cabins don’tget that same service.

I had sailed the R4 (stern cabin) – (Now Princess Tahitian)-yearsago and remember that it was a fine sailing ship. R1-R7 all built about thesame. It rode well in the seas. Mythinking was that Renaissance would not work with all travel agents but wantedthe travel agent profit for themselves and that with getting caught in 2001crises, busted them out. Management wasprobably poor anyhow.

When I started cruising Azamara (last 3), I realized to my thinkingthat this was Celebrities answer to Silversea Cruises. (Three). They are very close in their service but justa matter of personal preference. Azamarahas won me over mostly to guys like Russ, Tony and Phillip, Capt, Jose, Daripo,Heike, Milen, (engineer) Tony (CD),Yazman and the new Captain whose name I forget now.

If you have an Owners or Club Ocean suite you really don’tget any more personal service than everyone else on the ship as you do in aPenthouse on the Millennium. I guess that is what makes it special to everyone.For example in an Owners Suite they furnish complimentary alcohol, but if you ordera complimentary drink to be brought to the cabin, you pay for it just likeanyone else. You can go to the bar andget it without pay, but you pay if brought to the cabin. That is what it was in2014.

On my first Azamara cruise I found the cabin rather small (apparentlya stern cabin is larger) and asked onboard for an upgrade. Yazman said she hadone, but it was taken when we went to look at it. This was supposed to be a Presidents Cruisebut Larry Pimentel didn’t show up so I this was the only choice I had.

The only beef I had with Azamara is that on our last cruiseI had finally gotten the cabin I wanted after my TA kept checking to see if itcame available and it did. I was happy until I went to check in and was toldthat without my permission my cabin was upgraded to an Owners suite and I wasangry and began to show out. I wanted the club ocean suite I had booked. My wife told me to shut up and I did as told,but moped around until I got over it. Itis hard for anything to destroy having a good time on a cruise, even badtoilets. We bring lots of deodorizer.

As far as the Best of the Best, I have never had a betterexperience on any ship except our first trip to the Olympic Restaurant in 2000.

If anyone knows of any other ships that have forward viewingcabins (Other than the other Ren Ships) like Azamara I would be please to knowas that is now my favorite cabin.

We've done three Regent cruises for a total of 49 nights and...never again.

 

I suppose it depends on your definition of "luxury." Regent fails mine miserably. Give me warmth and personal attention anytime over Grey Goose, a lousy vodka anyway.

Thanks for this great report. haven't sailed Regent and now won't even give it a try. I usually make my own flight and travel arrangements to have better control over them. Better connections usually cost more.

I am a Bombay Blue Sapphire Gin drinker- But I think the Grey Goose is a fine Vodka. My daughter keeps it in the freezer. What would be a recommendation of a better Vodka?