CPT Trips

Tony’s Bronx accent was quite appropriate 🤦🏻‍♂️ in The Vikings, and even better in Spartacus.

🤷🏻‍♂️ close, non?

Will it be delayed as long as REAL ID has been here?😉🙄

If I were in your shoes, I don’t think I would have said that. 🤷🏻‍♂️😛 No Mod Squad substitutes?

I also think Globus tastes bad. On March 12, 2020 in the midst of a Norway tour, Globus told us that the tour was over due to the pending US border closing. We were also informed that the Globus tour leader, bus, and driver would be departing on the ferry early the next morning. Before she left the tour leader advised us that a Globus rep would meet with us that next day. Unfortunately that rep had no authority to act, so we were essentially on our own. Some of the people were scheduled to return to the US the next day, so they were OK. A number of us had booked the extended trip and were scheduled to fly Oslo to Tromso on the 13th and we’re not ticketed to return home until the 16th or later. Plus we had no hotel reservations in Oslo for the 13th and Norway began a quarantine that evening. Fortunately the hotel came through by contacting Globus and getting authorization for us to stay. Of course the biggest issue was getting a flight home “before the world closed.” We were told that the Globus offices were prioritizing people who booked air through them so we should see what we could arrange ourselves. Fortunately we had a TA who was able to arrange a flight change with the airline and we were on what we were told was the last plane out of Copenhagen (we didn’t get the non-stop from Oslo we booked). Although I “never say never,” don’t expect any Avalon trip reports from me.

A couple sites you might want to check. https://www.suitcaseandwanderlust.com/en/vienna-bratislava-day-trip/ https://twincityliner.com/en

@CruiseMark We found that a good time to do some exploring on our own skipping lunch on the ship. Unless your ship is leaving during lunch, you can pick up a couple extra hours touring this way. Also, you can drop out of the tour early if you spot something you want to explore in more depth. Obviously it works much better in locations where you can easily get back to the ship on your own. Be sure to let your tour guide know if you are aren’t going back to ship or. Are dropping out out of the tour. Also, confirm the all aboard time when you are ashore without the group.

@nh6mile Thanks, good to know.

@Host Jazzbeau Thank you.

Is it safe to assume breakfast is a standard menu? Is wine included at mealtimes, breakfast excluded.

Thanks for the live posts. I get a lot of advertising from them and there are several itineraries that interest us. So I am considering giving them a second chance after our prior (pre-covid) not so good experience. How many tour leaders are on board with you? Do you have a sense whether they plan to add any tour leaders for trips at capacity? Does one of the tour leaders accompany each group that goes out on the tours? If so does each group also get a local guide?

I imagine that logistically Santorini being a tender port would be a real challenge.

For the most important part of your trip, check out http://www.ottosrambles.co.uk. He has led me to some interesting experiences. Check ahead, some of his entries are dated and the establishment might have closed.

Yes, usually no interview. IIRC, the questions do pop up on the kiosk. Easier to misstate to a machine???

Mr. Google is your friend.

@notamermaid Perhaps you can explain the chalk marking that are made on doorways at Epiphany. Although I recognize the markings and their purpose, I can’t explain the tradition very well.

When entering the US, just wait until you answer “yes” to: have you been in close proximity to livestock? or have you been on a farm or pasture?

What a difference 50 some years make. I remember friends moving to Canadian order NOT to go to VietNam. 🤦🏻‍♂️😉 Enjoy your travels in the new year!

@Got2CruiseNo, we didn’t plan either of these on our own. When we began looking to go to the Galápagos we discovered that there were a lot of decisions needed and logistics that were more complicated than I wanted to take on. We found those same complications same with Australia/NZ planning. _________________________ shameless plug follows. 😉 😉 We are traveling with OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) which is owned by the same company as GCT (Grand Circle Travel) for both trips. They, OAT & GCT, keep us coming back with interesting itineraries, great trip leaders, travel credits for subsequent trips, a “bounty” for referrals along with a small discount to the travelers we refer, and good overall value. After a few trips customized air travel is available at no cost (unless you upgrade). We don’t travel on points and the cost of air fare through them has, so far, been better than I can do on my own and transfers are included when we buy “their air” so there’s another saving.

First, sorry for OP’s losses. I also am not an insurance expert. That said, I had a couple of trips (for which I had third party insurance) canceled, one due to Covid and the other due to low sales. The tour company was offering credit, plus a bonus, for a future trip. I contacted the insurance company as soon as I had written confirmation of the cancellation, credit, and other details of the tour company’s offer and inquired about what insurance options were available. TBH, at this point I’m somewhat fuzzy on all the details and time frames. I was able to transfer the policy with its existing terms and conditions to an undetermined future trip. There were time limits on how long I had to book the trip and advise the insurer of the dates, destination. I don’t recall exactly how much time I had, but it was quite reasonable. A higher price for one trip meant a higher premium which also seemed reasonable. As I didn’t need to file a claim, it’s purely speculative that whether I would have been reimbursed had I cancelled for a covered reason. That said, I don’t know of any basis they would have for denying a claim.

Well not exactly a river cruise, although we will travel on the Napo River. Part of a trip to Quito, Ecuadorian Amazon, and the Galápagos. Off topic, but responsive to the question, later in the year Australia and New Zealand on a land/air tour.

Yes it is definitely doable. But as others have noted it’s necessary to discuss your plans with the ship's staff. Personally, I would only do this if I had cell and data service with WhatsApp loaded on my phone.

A more modern unintended consequence of Soviet architecture can be found in Berlin. Because the funds raised for reconstruction of the Dom were “borrowed” to fund its construction, it is also known as “The Pope’s Revenge.” Given the Olomuoc Clock it’s a good thing the Dom’s interior reconstruction didn’t occur until Reunification.

Based on the different areas of expertise that the lecturers have it seems that the choice of itineraries might well be based on whether one is more interested in arts or politics. And extra time on each end would be well worthwhile.

Interesting article on the history of Christmas Markets. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-christmas-markets-180981308/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=pocket_hits&utm_campaign=POCKET_HITS-EN-DAILY-RECS-2022_12_20&sponsored=0&position=11&scheduled_corpus_item_id=ec827985-e907-488a-a6a0-278d71e5af40?utm_medium=email&utm_source=pocket_hits&utm_campaign=POCKET_HITS-EN-DAILY-RECS-2022_12_20&sponsored=0