Nuka

On 10/31/2023 at 6:17 PM, golferpcc said:

we managed to get the FCC. TA got it about 2 hours before the iffr was rescinded but I have to say the info we were given was so mixed up. Result was cruise fare only, no air reimbursement,  taxes and shore excursions reimbursed. However, paid $3300 for excursions but till O massaged the numbers we got $1300. And they won't explain how they got the numbers. I am writing FMC (federal maritime commission) they jy congress person to get answers. Last O cruise we will take

Call your State's Attorney if you live in the US.  Good luck

18 hours ago, taxatty said:

Given the current breakout of avian flu in South Georgia, this may be a moot issue if it becomes closed to visitors for an extended period. We're not happy about this as we're supposed to be on the Wind going there early in 2025. If Silversea removes it as a port stop, as we've already been to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands, we'll need to find a different experience.

Endeavor has had to cancel 4 stops there this week and the on the last one they did a zodiac tour and not a landing due to thr Avian flu. A passenger said they didn't go on the zodiac tour as they warned they would see dead birds and seals. Pic from FBook.

1 hour ago, Daveywavey70 said:

London Bridge? 

They have to report it to the appropriate authorities depending on relevant jurisdictions.  Hacking or not they have an obligation to protect personal info and report a breach IMHO.  

14 hours ago, JTor said:

Agree! Price per person per night is way up and the US dollar exchange is very painful for Canadians right now. We need a Canadian dollars at par promotion 

I was booked on Regent for their 'Canadian Dollar at par' promotion. My US friends also booked the cruise at a 25% reduction in $USD under a promo for Americans. So, it did seem to me to be a bit of an enticement to book without any substantive  savings between Canadian and American passengers.

6 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

At present time the website is not all that is included with the booking fare and in the respective rooms.  Not sure what the role is of a junior butler.

 

What I can say about the on-board staff is like others on this board I do hear from many of them regularly and with very few exceptions they tell me they are coming back.  How many is anyone's guess so let's see but I am very excited that the ones who told me they are coming back will be there.

 

Keith

That is reassuring to read that the staff is returning. On my first Crystal cruise, I thoughr this is a special place since so many of the frontline guest facing crew had been with Crystal for many years.

Does anyone know what is included with the booking fare?  Maybe I missed it on the site: all dining/reservations required, excusions, drinks etc;.  I didn't see it.  BTW, what is the role of a 'junior butler'?

I really enjoyed the old Crystal, but not sure of the overall product offering.  The onboard staff were what I enjoyed and hope they can bring back the vibe and congeniality.

At the very least you will get what category was booked. Good luck for more!

42 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

So it isn’t an error? They honoured those prices? The D2D are great prices!

The TA found the same pricing as you indicated, and placed a booking for me.

Thanks for highlighting this. I booked on the Spirit today because of this!

6 hours ago, les37b said:

I thought it might be similar to Miami, but had it confirmed a month ago. Only useful if using SS direct (which I usually do but not with the most difficult to date I’ve ever had!)

 

Spoke with our TA today and I have to admit they don’t fill me with confidence.

 

They are going to request that my out and return are from LHR. I’ve also just learned that both BA flights I was originally told I couldn’t have, are both being used. Unfortunately the Agent refuse to tell them “I know people of these flights - here’s the booking number” which probably ensures it’s prolonged.

 

My return flight has also been nuked for the third time. Not SS fault BA have for the second time, cancelled their Seattle to London flights, so it seems we now have to accept a 10 hour transfer in Seattle or move to Delta with just a 1h40m transfer, which I really don’t think is possible to do.

 

I’ve penned to them another alternative, which means having a second night in Anchorage and a flight with a 3h30m connection. Id prefer just to fly home same day, so this is simply to get a more favourable flight time. Not sure what the hotel will cost. We already got hit with this at the start of the cruise with a second night in Osaka, but to be fair that was a good “upgrade”. I’ve a feeling I’m not gonna like the cost!

 

Sooo…. If I took the Delta suggestion, what’s the outcome if the connection isn’t made? Next flight is 24 hours later I expect. Are we expected to pay for a hotel because of an impossible schedule was given to us? Delta washed their hands of us when we missed our flight in Atlanta booked by us direct. Same result here? I’ve certainly no desire to stay overnight in Seattle which unfortunately I suspect that connect time ensures.

 

 

 

90 min in Seattle is doable imho.  Good luck.

1 hour ago, Lonedaddy said:

Based on the comments from tour guides and other locals the NZ govt has made many foolish policies that have been very short sighted and caused huge problems (e.g. the egg shortage) 

 

But I do think regent botched the importance of some of the ports and fjords missing and the substitute ports were and most like will be a bust art gallery’s and botanic gardens are not what I came to NZ to see!

Yes. Not sure if the hull cleaning passed for the more 'environmentally sensitive' areas so those destinations won't see a visit. See: https://maritime-executive.com/article/fourth-cruise-hit-with-biofouling-as-new-zealand-and-industry-meet   Hope the rest of the cruise is uneventful and everyone enjoys it.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/third-australian-cruise-weeks-turns-nightmare-after-fungus-outbreak-prevents-entry-new-zealand

Article says  that the ship was instructed to undertake biocleaning prior to coming to NZ.l in December. (see last two paragraphs). 

On 11/18/2022 at 8:32 AM, susiesan said:

I am taking responsibility for having a brain fart. I've done all I can to salvage the vacation by expediting the passport renewal at a very hefty cost. Lesson learned. At the same time, I was not asking O to change the rules, I was asking for an exception for a past customer. That's called good business, working with your customers to make then happy. Unhappy customers will tell 10 people about their bad experience with a corporation.

 

I hope my experience has benefited others who may make the same mistake I did. I already heard from someone on the O FB group who was going to be denied boarding on her January cruise due to the same passport expiration date. She had no idea about this until I brought it up. She is rushing to renew their passports now. So I saved at least one couple's cruise vacation.

You wanted them to change rules because of being a past customer?  It reads like i made a mistake but there shouldn't be any comsequences. The policy is in place for not an arbitrary reason - its a requirement for countries visited that is standard and could potentially open up the cruiseline to issues with ports visited.  Sorry, but thinking that there should be an exception for you and your past sailing history is a bit rich imho.  Anyways, hope this works out for you 

13 hours ago, silkismom said:

As of now, our Japan in Apr. cruise seems to be a go. They did our air DEN-LAX with  59 MIN. CONNECTION,  is that even possible? Skywest embraer to a 787?  After stressing the past few months, I checked and UA still has a DEN-NRT nonstop, easy connections to Osaka. I emailed my TA this morning.

At LAX?  Yikes.

6 hours ago, ClefsDor said:

The first sailing of the Muse after dry dock is on 2 December. Boarding time states 2.00pm. They have had 2 months to disinfect the boat so I am assuming if people get there earlier they should be able to board before 2.00pm since there are no disembarking passengers or turn around issues to deal with.

But they are coming back from a 'cold start.'  Perhaps the crew will not have its 'rhythm' and I assume that the cabins will need to be prepared close to sailing, engineering systems used to load along with f&b provisioning. Will be interesting. I have been on a number of cruises after a dry dock and my experience is that its not smooth sailing the first few days. Hoping for the best for the PAX!

35 minutes ago, hoya68 said:

Thanks. Quarantine ended two days ago. Landings canceled yesterday. Made first laning this morning. 

Glad to read that quarantine is over!

On 11/19/2022 at 10:25 AM, hoya68 said:

Captain announced ship exceeded 2% threshold, that crew must wear masks and that passengers are encouraged to wear masks.

How are you doing?  Hope your quarantine ends soon.

1 hour ago, FauxNom said:

and....? @kimanjo  Thanks for posting about this product. I think I'm going to try it on my next trip.

 

@spinnaker2 @SLSD It's quite new, sold OTC/online. At least one study shows it's effective at quickly clearing the viral load after a positive covid test. The link posted above will get you to the study, I believe. It's too new to have been tested as a preventative, but the idea makes sense to me. It prevents the virus from attaching to your nasal membrane.

I bought it as well for my next trip. I consider it an additional layer of protection like masks, jabs and social distancing. Its efficacy is still being studied, but it is available for sale in Isreal and parts of Asia - but not US or Canada currently.  Good health to all!

1 hour ago, hoya68 said:

Heard from reliable source that one other couple on board tested positive.  Hope they are doing OK. 

Take care. Thinking of you and your wife.  Hope you are 100% soon!

1 hour ago, fudge said:

I am starting to look for a cruise for 2024, when I look at what is on offer most cruises say door to door, when I click on "view more" it only included a private transfer? Am I missing something?  Surely door to door includes everything or am I confusing it with port to port?

Sometimes they only offer D2D without flights.

11 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

A six meter sea level shift would be about 20 feet.  That's two full decks worth of tide.

Agreed. The tidal sea level changes are not unknown events -- the risks to safety were not handled well IMO. Hope the PAX are recovering from their injuries. 

Also chexk with your credit card if it has some coverage - you may be able to buy top up insurance to increase limits. I find it overly expensive but part of the cost for travel these days. I ended up buying non medical travel insurance and a separate covid coverage policy to cover what Silversea doesn't - mainly landbased quarantine  - with some overlapling coverage on both.  I have medical from work. Good luck!

23 hours ago, Nuka said:

Check with your TA + don't forget to check airline policies as well.  Requirements are fluid so you will need to keep checking to be sure. Not too much fun, but better to know before departure.  If a booster is required, I have seen that it needs to be 14 days before arrival for some countries. Good luck.

1 hour ago, ak1004 said:

My apologies if it was discussed before, but what are the updated Covid requirements on Silversea?

 

I found this - https://www.silversea.com/lp-silversea-hrts-consumer.html

 

Specifically: 

"Up to Date Vaccinated Guests: You will need to be fully up to date with your vaccine status (“up to date” means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible), in accordance with each of the countries you plan to visit on your respective itinerary."

 

Does it mean that if for example someone has only 2 doses, and one of the countries on the itinerary requires a booster, this person will be denied boarding? 

Check with your TA + don't forget to check airline policies as well.  Requirements are fluid so you will need to keep checking to be sure. Not too much fun, but better to know before departure.  If a booster is required, I have seen that it needs to be 14 days before arrival for some countries. Good luck.

38 minutes ago, drron29 said:

The next morning we awoke in Livorno,Italy.

 

We were off on a S.A.L.T. excursion which are meant to give you a taste of local culture and the food of the area. It was to be an Italian BBQ feast at a winery in the Tuscan Hills. But first shots from the bus on our drive to the vineyard.

 

 

Can hardly wait for the next installment!  Thank you very much for this - makes me long for travel and a nice meal.  Last cruise fir us was late 2018, but going on the Muse in December.  

5 hours ago, HPfoodie said:

We received a notification from the Government FCO. 

Can you share it?  I only read that the Indian gov't was opening up another office for in person visa issuance in the UK.  Maybe more good news will come soon.