cbb

we had problems with our cabin phones on Regatta this winter--didn't receive several messages so Reception left notes at the foot of the bed and called the electricians in to check the phones.  Wiring was gone!!!

but yeah, CC is a good way to stay in touch as long as other people decide not to report the messages for deletion (it has happened!)

 ATW16 people asked for a website bulletin board where we could leave notes for each other, place notices as to change of plans or hours of a tour or meet in town for lunch.  We resorted to placing 'sticky' notes on each other's doors since we didn't get one. 

Heck, O could even monitor it if they wished--there were no secrets or shenanigans  

On ATW16 we were allowed to leave the ship in Sydney on an overnight but on Insignia last December when we boarded at Sydney for the beginning of the cruise we were warmed that once we boarded we would not be allowed to leave the ship again.

a big problem in the discussion of all of this is that people still confuse the terms "weather" and "climate."

since many of us doubt the sources others use--go look up the differences between the two. 

Good to know about your positive experiences with Luggage Free.  I think we'll go with them but through AAA we can get a discount with Luggage Forward---maybe!  We'll run the $numbers and see.

thanks again!

I agree;  leave the ship.  Even if you've been there many times there are so many places to visit or revisit.

There are so many things to do in Sydney depending on where you're docked.  If you're at the Circular Quay you can walk around the Rocks, take the ferry to Manly, (which is amazing), catch a city bus to Bondi Beach, (which is beautiful), walk across the Bridge, climb the bridge, walk a couple of blocks away from the Harbor in any direction and there is something wonderful to see.  

Darling Harbor is filled with lots of shops and restaurants as well as cool historical things to see.

See the Opera House, the National Park is right there filled with great trees, flowers, and birds that you don't see in North America....well, I could go on and on.  I could live in Sydney....it's just that cool!

we've been on several b2b and we always tell our room attendant not to "do" our room at the end of the first segment. 

He/she is usually really busy trying to get the cabins ready for the next bunch of passengers so we just say "our room is fine, we have plenty of towels, we can make our own bed, see you in the morning."

 Not only do they have to turn those cabins around quickly but they also meet with everybody in each cabin they serve.  Every single attendant we've had has been so appreciative. 

  Please tell staff thank you for bringing local singers and dancers on board.  We hope they do so for ATW20!!!

Thanks everybody for such great advice.  We've been to Edinburgh before and as I said we think it is a wonderful ancient city and we can't wait to go again...it's been a few years. 

We do aim to try and climb the Carlton Hill since I had read about the beautiful views from there; we hope to do it early one of the mornings we're there just for that lovely light. 

thanks for the cruisemapper site.  We've used whatsinport.com often so we'll go to cruisemapper and check it out.  I love to do research so now I have a new source! 

Thanks Paul for warning me about the $$--perhaps we can use it for tips if we have some left over.   

y'all are the best!

Gnoelj: 

again, so much great information.  Thank you and it has been added to my research document!  The Leith walk has been included in places to consider walking...and we don't worry about rain.  We have industrial ponchos that cover us and our cameras....we're not fashionable but the camera and the body from head to knees are mostly dry!!!

i spotted this today in my research on walking tours:   "Back along Waterloo Place is the Old Calton Burying Ground and its Emancipation Monument and statue of Abe Lincoln to honor Scottish-American Civil War soldiers" which for Americans is very appropriate today; It is President Lincoln's birthday!  Thanks again

Gnoeli 

wow....what a wealth of info your reply has!  Thank you so much!!!  I had seen references to the bus # that might work for us, and getting your feedback was great!

good to know about the money.  We aim to hit the ATM at the rail station in Southampton.  I've found 4 diy walking tours that will take us to see the sights of beautiful Edinburgh--both "Old" and "New."

We've been there before and think it is one of the most beautiful settings for an ancient town we've ever seen. 

thanks again! 

friend just sent me a note via "social media" that there was a shuttle in Leith to take people into and out of Edinburgh so that answers my question...YAY and thanks to those who answered.

I've search the "shuttle thread" and didn't find any reference.  We are leaving the ship this summer in Southampton, taking the train to Edinburgh, seeing the Festival/Edinburgh Tattoo, and then rejoining the ship when it arrives in Leith/Edinburgh. 

Does anyone remember if there is a shuttle that takes one from port to Edinburgh?  I've researched the topic and sometimes there is a mention of a shuttle, especially during Tattoo/Festival Days but then others are suggesting a taxi, bus, or the HOHO bus which picks up cruise passengers to take into town. 

It is too far to walk.  We'd only need it for our return to port and will only have a backpack each--no other luggage but others have also wondered about shuttle. (roll call not a help)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/plastic-straw-ban-cigarette-butts-are-single-greatest-source-ocean-n903661

 decafnights,

We were just in Dubai with Nautica spring'18 and were told that the Burj Khalifa observation deck lines depend on how many ships are in port! 

we took the HOHO, the kiosk was set up right off the ship (like 50 steps away,) and it was charged to the room bill!  I'm really glad we took the HOHO as the route went several different places.  Sitting on the open top (with cover) really allowed us to see much of Dubai. 

Deus--

we must have had the same guide--was he also cranky?  I thought perhaps it was just ours, but 2 people with 2 different private guides told me they did not like theirs either.  Perhaps it was trying to move us through the crowds.....

Thanks Bob Brown for including pictures of Betsy....she is my love.  She looks/sounds like she's having the best time! 

Palakika--sounds like an awesome way to see Egypt!

did the shorex to petra with O this past spring and our guide repeated "slowly slowly" many times.  At the rate we were slowly slowly going i knew dave & i wouldn't see as much as we wanted.  So we told him we'd meet him where lunch was to be and took off.  To be fair, the private guides were saying exactly the same thing!!

We recognized the need to go slowly on the walkway but just a little too slow for us.  But wow...what is not to love about Petra!  UAE was cool but I don't need to repeat the ports.

Jerusalem was the same slow walk except this time it was because of the crowds.  We were there on a day which is evidently "bar mitzvah"  day so there were tons of 13 year old boys and extended family singing and hoisting 13 yr olds on shoulders--cool to see but hard to navigate!!! 

Palakika,

I just returned home from running errands and saw the ATW21 itinerary.  Mostly a repeat of 2019 I think but like you I'm interested in Instanbul.  We've tried 2x and the port has been cancelled 2x!!!  May take a land tour which would also get us to Cappadochia. 

Will also look at a Nile River cruise since O has cancelled Cairo on us more than once (that whole Arab Spring thing) but we won't be taking 2021.  The segments that begin in Mumbai and head west are wonderful--we did Mumbai to Rome this spring and it is one of my faves ever.

We had several shore side events ATW16 and O has continued the tradition.  They have been pretty amazing.  ATW20 is lunch on an estancia out of Montevideo, dinner at the Taj Cape Town, Monk Ceremony in Rangoon, Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong, and Arima Onsen (several events planned here in Kobe)

docmark--details will be posted on O's website Feb 7, reservations begin on Feb 13.  This was just a youtube tease.  Looks like it is mostly a repeat of ATW19 with a few additions/changes.

thanks GoBucks-- did you notice Abu Simbel and Istanbul?

  Curious how they would get passengers there....overlands?  Also curious if O goes to Luxor if the "pyramids and meet the ship" is one of the overlands offered from there. 

we'd be only interested in segments, I'm thinking.  Thanks for your help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_PvY9-UF0Q&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0fxxPy81w-m5C26YDt1D829avQNsO-eOsZ1eGPCpJVkoHUqWZd2fZrsGw

Feb 7, 2019  details on website; reservations on Feb 13

"I think I'd better stay home and touch nothing and kiss only myself "

Paul--just a thrill a minute with you, isn't it???

"This opens the door for people to walk around the ship with drinks from their room." 

Dang Paul, I had already thought of that.....and i wonder what the sterilization factor is for white wine--particularly the Villa Maria Sav Blanc?   I'll research that one personally!!!