Host Jazzbeau

Isn't that one of the new Viking Mississippi river ships? 🤣

I thought it meant you didn't like people named Lachlan... 😁

Your TA has recommended the least crowded ships (Tauck), the most crowded (Viking), and the most polarizing decor (Uniworld). I would also suggest AMA and Scenic, to round out the luxury category. Pay attention to cabin size and layout, number of passengers (almost all ships are the same size, based on lock size - and they go from 130 to 190 pax, a huge difference!). The other important factor is itinerary - at first blush they may all look the same, but the details vary in ways that may be important to you. I especially like Scenic’s 10-night itineraries, which add so much detail on the same stretch of River. As to price, be sure to take into account the different inclusions.

And if it's refundable, it goes back to the credit card you file onboard. If you have a balance due at the end of the cruise, that goes to the credit card; if you have a positive balance, the refund goes to the same card.

If the TA pays the full value of the OBC, it should be refundable. If it was a shared promotion between Azamara and the TA, it would be non-refundable.

More news: A&K's plans for an Amazon river ship: What we know so far

The phobia ones were the hardest – but everyone made fools of themselves on those! In fact, part of what made trivia fun on Whisper was the knowingly crazy answers people would shout out...

Did her husband offer to buy her an Asp instead? 🤣

Will 'she' have a companion, "The Lady"? This could be a terrific solution to snoring, which I'm told affects many people 'of a certain age' – including, it is alleged by an ear-witness, moi!

We cruisers can fight back. Turn your champagne bottle into a crowd-control water cannon! 🤣

I'll take that trade any day!

If you made it a day ahead, sliced the layer horizontally and soaked the cut sides with Amaretto, and then reassembled it with whipped cream in between and on top – it would be ever better! [And if you did it with four half-layers and molded it into a large round bowl, it would be what my DW's dessert called 'the bomb' – actually adapted from a recipe for trifle, but things have a way of shifting with her baking just like CC threads often do...]

My Journey cruise for Sept. 6, 2025 still shows no excursions available. I assume it's just too far out. So I looked up earlier Azamara cruises going to my ports and made a list of what I can expect to see when they post them.

Not sure about the answer to this, but on the related issue of walk wear: open-toe shoes are very dangerous on Mackinac Island, especially if you don't look DOWN before stepping... 🤣

Just keep replying to this thread. We’ll all keep reading! And thanks!

(light) Lunch is available to you also

The points are awarded each day; it’s not “progressive”— 5 for first place, 3 for second, 1 for third. Generously, ties all get that level of points, so one day on Whisper every team got at least 1 (worthless) point!

That’s why they bought the AQV ships — to prevent somebody else from entering the market.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/explora-journeys-sets-sights-on-luxury-dominance/ linked without quote to avoid copyright violation

It may come as a shock. I hope you like it. My last Celebrity cruise was my last Celebrity cruise. [too "Edge-y"]

When we boarded Whisper in Auckland in January, our documents said boarding was 2 pm. We walked by the pier at 12:30 and boarding was in full swing (must have started no later than noon), so we hustled back to the hotel and were on well before the posted boarding time.

Yes, that was part of the assets they purchased. There was also an earlier story that they intended to allow Vantage customers to apply their cruise credits to the new Vantage Explorations line – I don't know if that happened. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/08/aurora-expeditions-to-form-new-vantage-explorations-company/

Atlas ships are under 10,000 tons, so they are allowed to enter Venice through the Guidecca Canal and dock at either San Basilio or Marittima. Ships up to 25,000 tons (that meet certain other restrictions, which I think Atlas ships should do) can dock at either terminal. None of the news items I have seen were written by people who have a clue about small-ship cruising so they are useless on this. Only Atlas will know for sure.

Oh, I'm sorry. I got the two 'high end chains' confused! 🤷‍♂️

Well, there was the "Four Seasons" motel that DavyWavey had the [pleasure?] of staying in somewhere in Australia...