gnld

We stayed at the Sheraton for 3 nights last June prior to a Baltic cruise. Very nice 4 to 5* hotel; we used our Starwood points. Excellent location. Gamla Stan is a short walk across a bridge in front of the hotel. Train station is 2 blocks away (we arrived by rail from Oslo). A short cab ride or interesting waterfront walk to the Vasa Museum. Or, heading the other way, a short walk to ferries heading out to interesting other areas of the archipelago.

But if you're really looking for something different, stay a night or two on board the Malardrottningen Boat Hotel in Gamla Stan. A classic yacht once owned by Betty Hutton. A true "experience"! We stayed there the night before boarding our cruise ship.

We've stayed twice at the Regent Hotel. Very nice 5* hotel at a reasonable price. Located near one end of famous Orchard Rd.

The "boat on the top" is the Marina Bay Sands hotel (to me, it looks more like a surfboard on top). We tried to stay there last time, but it was fully booked many months out! And pricey - but for a splurge....

We will be cruising to Cuba on Azamara next month. Just like you, we prefer to do our own thing. We are not planning on doing any ship tours in Cuba. We are going to hire a private guide for part of one day to see the outer reaches of Havana and are debating if we'll do old town Havana on our own or hire a private guide for that as well. I've also heard of a free walking tour of Old Town that is a possibility. We are not going to see the shows, but are going to seek out some live music. And we'll have dinner and lunches in Paladars on our own. We are definitely planning on spending some time exploring by just wandering around as well. I have read that you should hang on to your receipts of places you eat and shop as proof of our "people to people" experience. Not sure if it's accurate information, but it's no trouble to hang on to a slip of paper, so why not.

 

Happy 80th birthday! I hope if or when I reach that milestone I'm enjoying adventures on my own as well!

 

 

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As Suzcruise writes, going out on your own still has to be people-to-people oriented. And you do have to keep records of where you went, who you were with (e.g., private guide) and spoke to, what you bought, etc. You'll get info on this in your cruise docs.

We went out on our own our 2nd time in Cuba on the Adonia when we went docked in Santiago de Cuba. Got a private guide with a classic car and told him where we wanted to go and see; he suggested some other areas, too. Kept notes as we went along and wrote up an MS Word document, with photos, after we got home -- just in case a DHS rep knocks on my door!

Yesterday I tried booking a few shorex for our April 2018 crossing on the Quest, but the only option online was to charge to my credit card. Nothing about using OBC. So I called Azamara. The rep told me they wouldn't have the option to use OBC credit until about December or so. However, she said if i booked now with my credit card, that once on board, I could request my OBC be used to pay for them and a credit back to my credit card would be generated. We'll see how it goes!

Great news but I'm also not thrilled with the name. My first thought was Azamara Adventure went so much better with Quest and Journey ... but it might be too long so I like the previous poster's suggestion of Venture.

Royal Caribbean has the Adventure of the Seas, so maybe Azamara Adventure would have been too close/confusing.

Good news (tho I had preferedr a new build). Azamara finally getting a 3rd ship - they've waffled for years between existing tonnage vs. new build. Then punted and did nothing. I'm surprised they didn't buy the Pacific Princess; it's been for sale for a long time. And on Fathom, we were told the P&O folks were over joyed to be getting the Adonia back - they love that small ship!

We were on Fathom Adonia twice this past year -- Cuba in October and Dominican Republic in April. And on her in '08 to the Amazon when she was sailing as the Royal Princess. Styling very much like orig Renaissance -- will need total re-do to make it look like the current Journey and Quest. And it needs deck 8 gutted to incorporate the mini-suites, and to return the casino (P&O took it out). Don't know about mechanicals below deck that were mentioned previously (she ran fine on our two recent Fathom cruises).

We'll be on the Quest in April, so will find out details first-hand. Looking to see what new and unique itineraries the Pursuit will sail.

Well, my desire of a new build did not come to pass. But at least they will get a much-needed 3rd ship. In the refurb, I sincerely hope they remodel deck 8 to create the mini-suites like Journey and Quest have -- preferably for all of deck 8, like Oceania has.

 

We'll be on the Quest in April, so will get first-hand info then. Can't wait!

Oops - this is the Oceania thread!! Should have posted this to an Azamara thread!

Oceania would be better served with a new build than another R ship, IMHO. They have 4 of them now and they ARE nearing 20 years old. Personally, I find the O ships a bit too large (but do like the dining options) - maybe something around Viking size (approx 900) at the most. Regent Explorer is 750 and a drop-dead gorgeous ship! We'll see what happens -- all the luxury lines (except Crystal) have come out with new ships, with more on the horizon. Oceania has to step up to the plate (Azamara, too).

Well, my desire of a new build did not come to pass. But at least they will get a much-needed 3rd ship. In the refurb, I sincerely hope they remodel deck 8 to create the mini-suites like Journey and Quest have -- preferably for all of deck 8, like Oceania has.

We'll be on the Quest in April, so will get first-hand info then. Can't wait!

We were on the Adonia twice: October of last year to Cuba, then this past April to the Dominican Republic on a volunteer cruise. Also back in March '08 to the Amazon when she sailed as the Royal Princess.

Note that this ex-Renaissance ship (the R8) does NOT have the mini-suites on deck 8 like Oceania and Azamara ships do. I hope when they refurbish it in 6 months time, they do add them in - preferably the whole of deck 8. We'll have to wait and see. We'll be on the Quest in April, so we'll get first-hand info then. Can't wait to see the unique itineraries the Pursuit will sail, per Larry Pimentel's video.

Will be interested in seeing your comments, meow. Been reading a lot of negatives on the Muse regarding dining and dress code. Tho I also read Silversea is trying to remedy this. They've got too -- it seems they really "stepped in it" this time. And the Silver Moon is supposed to be a twin of the Silver Muse. Love the name, Silver Moon, tho!

We don't book forward staterooms on any ship. They experience more "motion of the ocean" and my wife is somewhat prone to that.

We were on deck 5 on the Odyssey in a V2 (somewhat midship). Note the balcony rail ass'y is not transparent - solid metal. But we didn't find this a problem as far as blocking the view. Next midship category is V5 (one deck up) and quite a bit more $$. V2 is fine with us and we'd book it again.

Oceania would be better served with a new build than another R ship, IMHO. They have 4 of them now and they ARE nearing 20 years old. Personally, I find the O ships a bit too large (but do like the dining options) - maybe something around Viking size (approx 900) at the most. Regent Explorer is 750 and a drop-dead gorgeous ship! We'll see what happens -- all the luxury lines (except Crystal) have come out with new ships, with more on the horizon. Oceania has to step up to the plate (Azamara, too).

We were on the Regatta late July for 1-week Alaska cruise with our 9 year old grandson. 2 councilors in card room to look after the kids, but most of the activities geared to the younger ones. Our grandson only participated a bit. Nearly all the kids 9-11 preferred playing miniature golf, shuffleboard and in the pool (yes, in Alaska) and the hot tubs. Didn't see any kids "running wild". Don't expect much of the youth program unless your kids are in the 5-7 age group. But all the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot on the cruise. Ours charmed all the crew, incl the Captain (who gave us a tour of the Bridge and his quarters); and had a boyhood crush on one of the young, cute girl dancers!

We were on the Silver Explorer to Antarctica, Falkland Is. & So. Georgia in Jan. 2016. There were no formal nights, not even sport jackets required -- a very casual environment. I would hope on the Cloud that it would be the same. There are baggage weight limits for these expedition cruises.

You can start a thread as far out as you like.

 

Earlier this year I started a thread 2 years out for a Regent cruise!

We had a deck 5 balcony on the Odyssey back in April 2012. The balcony was just fine; no problem with the view. I'd book it again.

If Regent hadn't cancelled Navigator Northwest Passage, the Navigator would be stuck in the middle of the 9+ ice depicted in red in middle of this image:

 

 

Of course, I think there was enough ice around Point Barrow that they would never have made it to Gjoa Haven by 3 August.

 

Marc

Crystal Serenity departs Tuesday the 15th on her 2nd Northwest Passage cruise. Wonder how she'll do with the ice?

One thing to note (and it may or not may not matter to you): there is no casino on the Viking Ocean ships.

What about the new ocean-going Scenic Eclipse, debuting next summer?

We were on the Silver Explorer Jan. 2016 to Falkland Is., So. Georgia, and Antarctica. Loved it. We saw a Ponant ship one afternoon - the only other ship we saw the whole cruise!

My understanding is that the first language on Ponant ships is French. Scott1sh, did you investigate this prior to booking? I'd be interested in trying a Ponant ship, but the language issue puts me off.

We were on the Mariner years ago. Wanted to try her again, perhaps later this year, after the refurbishment (not just before it!). Disappointed it was put off a year. So now we're booked on the Mariner for an East Asia cruise in early 2019.

We were recently on the Voyager, and on the new Explorer last year. Loved the Explorer!! We'll be back on her in January.

That's probably Pacific Princess whose sale has been mooted before. In the current climate and by what the head of Azamara has said I don't think they are in the market for it. Much has been speculated here. I wish it were true and it was coming to Azamara though.

Agree with you 100%. Azamara not interested in Pacific Princess - they feel the total cost would be too much (tho Oceania recently did the same math and bought the other R ship from Princess and it's now sailing as the Sirena). Azamara has been sitting on their hands for years now regarding adding tonnage, while everybody else close to their market has: Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal, Oceania, Windstar -- and look at Viking Ocean! Sure wish they'd do a new build!

We board her Sunday noontime. Can't wait!

We were on the Fathom Adonia in October to Cuba. Ship is in very good condition! From what I've read, the Brits are ecstatic about her going back to P&O - they love her small size. So I doubt P&O/CCL would entertain selling her anytime soon.

Azamara should look at the Pacific Princess (R3) if they're interested in acquiring existing similar tonnage, tho I've read it's not in the best of shape. But would it be for sale? Might take another $40million to bring her up to Azamara's standards, like it did for Oceania to create Sirena. CCL sold the R4 to NCL, why not the R3 to RCL?

Pure speculation, of course. But what else is out there that might be a fit for Azamara?

We're on the Explorer in 2 weeks time and had 4 shorex wait-listed. One cleared a few weeks ago. Actually, Regent called our TA to tell him we were double-booked. I then called Regent and cancelled our "2nd choice". Hope the other 3 clear once we're onboard.

Also made our 3 alternate dining reservations. Had to use "sharing" to get dates early in the cruise (that were not extremely late dining times). Hope things will work out so we can get more reservations, table for 2, later in the 2-week cruise.