glorygaf

Basandsyb you mentioned you live on the Gold Coast and I’d be interested to talk to you personally.

we live in Southport any chance of contacting you.  Thanks basandsyb tmarsden043@gmail.com send me your phone number and I’ll call you back

Basandsyb you mentioned you live on the Gold Coast and I’d be interested to talk to you personally.

we live in Southport any chance of contacting you.

We find this very disappointing and am quite annoyed. Like most people on this post we’ve done NZ several times plus of course Tasmania and Victoria. It will be interesting how Seabourn will get passengers onto Norfolk Island I’ve been there and it is rarely smooth enough to get small vessels onto the pier.

Wish  you luck with emails to Head office, I’ve sent several re some issues with later advertising of benefits that were unavailable when we initially booked earlier in the year and as yet to receive a reply from  two months ago. Not happy Jan.

1 hour ago, ArtsyCraftsy said:

 

The Captain's noon announcement about 45 minutes ago included info on the ongoing effort to line up excursions for the new ports.  They won't announce anything until they have confirmation, but they're in contact with the various tour agencies in those locations to get some local trips arranged for us.  The new ports visits start on March 4 (Burnie), so there's still over a week to get the arrangements made for that port.

Are you able to include the ports from Sydney to Perth Please ArtsyCraftsy

9 hours ago, alexandra cruiser said:

Re. that....I use Lysol spray,,don t inhale any more than when using around house. Let pillows dry completely before. 

Do that at home between washing...also put my pillows in dryer for 15 min.to kill bugs and refresh.

 

Yes, can also use the hand wipes that kill bacteria.Just so you re not touching the stuff directly. Started this to prevent norovirus that was going around a ship I was on many yrs.ago.Admit I don t always do it at home ,rest,etc. 

Just wash hands a LOT.We both did that at work for many yrs.and sort of second nature to us.Also, I do it when I first get in cabin,,,then not as much after.

 

I can see why they had such a spread on ship,,,doubt using hospital rules.

Just been advised by Regent that Manila - Bangkok March 1 has been cancelled with full refund. Other compensation not finalised as yet

11 hours ago, motone said:

glorygaf, where did you hear that we will start in Manila and not Hong Kong?  We still can't get any info here in the UK.  The Regent office here told me yesterday that they're waiting to hear from Head Office in the States.  We are on the March 1st sailing all the way to Bangkok - we think (hope).

Our advice came from our Agent via Regent.

Your TA should have received an email from Regent, my suggestion would be to contact them.

Just now, glorygaf said:

 

Well at last we have some news this cruise (March 1) will embark from Manila.

The itinerary is the same virtually except for Manila. Hong Kong visit becomes a sea day.

Regent have offered a 25% FCC but no cancellation offer.

58 minutes ago, SunNFunCruzer said:

It has just been reported by several sources (including NBC News) that the virus incubation period can be as high as 23-24 days.  When making determinations about traveling, please keep that in mind and seek out accurate and up to date information.

 

 

 

Wedid a similar itinerary on Seabourn last Christmas and it was great except at this time of year is cyclone season in the southern hemisphere, hopefully you won't experience one as we did coming out of Townsville. Waves over the bow which was fun for a day or two. Mooloolaba is a lovely town but I don't know of any cruises that have actually tendered there due to the large swell that exists and tenders can't be used. Burnie is actually my home town hope you will love it as we did. Exmouth is another that is bit iffy we arrived there in very choppy conditions but the weather improved through the day and most people were able to go ashore. Enjoy Australia its a big country but the people  are okay.

There is usually a reasonable stock on board, depends mainly where their last port of call for supplies.

On Sojourn last year in Alaska they had plenty of Alaskan beers on board and they are very nice I liked Alaskan Amber as I am not fond of pale ales. Don't be concerned there are plenty of ports in Australia where there will be ample supplies of good Aussie beer. As a seasoned beer drinker I can vouch for them.

You wouldn't believe it we booked a hotel in Valparaiso yesterday before being advised about the change of port.

Not a drama as the reservation was totally refundable.

Guess if there are no decent hotels in San Antonio we may have to stay in Santiago.

Thankfully we have time on our side. Once again thanks for everybody's help with this post.

Thanks so much for all of your replies it is good to know that Valpo is going to be the destination port so that helps.

Now all we need to do is to decide on the options.

We are booked on Quest to cruise to Antartica from Valparaiso to Buenos Aries after flying into Santiago.

The alternatives are to stay in Santiago overnight and then travel to Valparaiso the next day to join the ship or transfer directly from the airport and overnight in Valparaiso. Our plane arrives in the morning so there's ample time.

Having been to Santiago previously we've never seen much of Valparaiso but are concerned about safety issues and style of accommodation available. Some reviews are quite brazen in their comments.

An alternative could be Vina del Mar which is only a few miles away. Any comments or recommendations from CCers Would be welcome.

We too find the duvets too hot and on our recent cruise on Sojourn our bed did not have a topper.

We requested a light blanket and a topper which was soon delivered and our sleeps were extremely comfortable.

Seabourns beds have always been very good wish I could find a similar one here.

We have sailed almost 200 days with both Seabourn and Regent although we have not sailed on Navigator. We have sailed on all the others of both lines.

In our opinion there are good and not so good points for both lines .

Seabourn is possibly a little more personal because of fewer passengers but we love both.

We have sailed on both the new ships Encore and Regent Explorer and both have many design faults but we have enjoyed them all, sometimes you have to over look some minor faults and after all it is up to yourselves to make sure you have a good time .

We have sailed on Encore and found the TK grill highly overrated.

Our negatives were the over salting, portions in some cases too large, but some of the food we liked included the Caesar salad prepared at the table and the appetisers Sincerely trust Seabourn don't see TK grills being a permanent feature.

I have used a cpap mc. On Seabourn several times and have never filled out a form.

All you need to do is ack your suite stewardess and she will get it for you.

The opening time is advertised at 7am, however the door is not locked and access is available at any time.

On recent cruise Encore from Singapore to Auckland there were rarely times when the gym was full and if it was there was only a few minutes wait before one became available.

The busiest time seemed to be the first morning of a new segment and from then on there were plenty of machines valuable.

Whilst terms and conditions state no visitors are permitted on board Seabourn do make allowances at times.

We have just concluded 42 days on Encore and were fortunate to have our son and his family join us while we were docked in Melbourne.

It is a long arduous process be prepared to allow several weeks or months in our case of too-ing and fro-ing.

Initially an email to HO asking for permission will eventuate in a visitor request form being sent.

Seabourn do not reply to emails readily. You will require passports full details of those coming on board make certain everything is clear and accurate.

Our application was approved by the Captain details were available at the port gate, once on board more forms were required to be filled in and visitors cards were required to be worn.

It was a very pleasant occasion for us and well worth the effort. Good luck.

You have done a fine job ASH keeping us informed. My wife and I are also Joining Encore on Jan 7 for 42 days to Auckland.

We were on one of the early cruises on Regent Explorer which is a very beautiful ship, but we are looking forward to getting back on Seabourn and are pleased that Handre is on board. We last sailed with him on Quest with Northern Europe cruise Iceland, Greenland etc disembarking in Montreal in 2014. He is an excellent CD and a very accomplished piano player.

We have just disembarked Explorer on a very port intensive 10 day cruise which we are not used to, we prefer longer cruises with some sea days but the excitement of a brand new ship was too much to resist.

Whilst we can agree to some of the comments into crew personalities we definitely did not see any nasty members. On discussions with some they are still coming to terms with their schedules and we found if you smiled at them and engaged them in some communication they were much improved.

We also found some of the supervisors were riding them to make sure they were setting up tables correctly and completing their chores.

Can't remember any of them calling us by name, but they still remembered our drink favourites.

The destinations crew have definitely lifted their game since we were on Voyager last Christmas, and seemed to have mastered the old problem of passengers racing to buses to get the front seat. Now they only issue bus tickets when the buses are ready and everyone leaves together.

The ship is fabulous, a little over the top in places with quite dark colours in some areas. Overall it is a beautiful ship.

Have disembarked in Singapore twice on Voyager and both times at Singapore Cruise Terminal. It Is a long hike from ship to shore and a bit of a dogs breakfast getting through customs, but transport is readily available and easy to access to hotels airport and trains.

We are spending two nights in Barcelona arriving by train and wondered if anyone on CC could recommend a hotel convenient to the Barcelona Sants and within reasonable distance to World Trade Centre Pier and Central Barcelona. Something not too expensive but in nice area close to restaurants etc.

Any information would be appreciated.

Enjoying your comments and pics TC2 thank you. We are joining Voyager shortly following the pre cruise Safari similar to yours. Did you find mosquitos a problem? We note your comments about the cool mornings although we will be a good month into their summer when we go however seems some warm clothing is necessary. We have booked an excursion in Mozambuique but as you say the cost of Visas is exorbitant and may cancel as well.

Thank you all so much for your comments they are a great help. I used a bad choice of words to describe Easter as a non event, there certainly were chocolate displays, and for those who wished, church services and of course the chocolate box. We are enjoying this current cruise immensely after having sailed on Seabourn for the past couple of years. There is not a lot of difference really, of course there a some good and better points for both and it really is up to each individual to make sure they have a good time.