Host Jazzbeau

That word is not censored because of the historical meaning, but because people use it on Cruise Critic as a slur for people they consider controlling, eg about spelling. 

Villa Vie’s Odyssey Enters Drydock in Belfast

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

5 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Well it opened here straight away and triggered my lachanaphobia instantly. Bro-coli everywhere. Shudder. 

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. 

36 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

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. 

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

14 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

Can anyone give me some idea of the questions? I don’t want to show up and make a fool of myself. 

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...

12 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

We were on a Nile cruise and there was a woman on this cruise that was nicknamed Cleopatra and the reason was that everyone awaited every change she made during the day including the wide brimmed hats that she always had on.  Now I would say that we saw one or two hats more than once, but never the outfit twice.

 

On the Egyptian night she arrived at the lounge with the most beautiful "costume" of anyone on the ship - of course.

 

This woman apparently had the cash.  Never saw how much luggage she brought, but we were in a carpet store and she wanted to buy the $50K USD carpet but her husband refused her the opportunity.

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

2 hours ago, notamermaid said:

And now here she is. The brainchild of Arjan van Loon, the family's move into the river cruising world and industry from their standard business as a shipping company, this new venture being a subsidiary. "The Gentleman" has been christened in Rotterdam:

Safe travels to her always.

 

notamermaid

 

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!

7 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

I believe that this is an issue for both River and Ocean cruisers that we will have to deal with as time marches on.  

 

I am most afraid of protesters that may in the future (as they have been known to do already) start to protest at cruise docks.

 

This could become like union strikes and trying to cross picket lines.

 

We love cruising but if this starts to happen we will rethink our travel strategy.

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

1 hour ago, avalong said:

Just back from the 2nd deck barbecue of our back-to-back cruises. There were lamb chops on offer, but still no lobster. It was fabulous, nonetheless.

I'll take that trade any day!

12 hours ago, UKCruiseJeff said:

By coincidence yesterday I made some lovely orange almond cake that was very good.  It is gluten free and although it is unphotogenic it is extraordinary.  

 

It seemed a waste to have it with tea and so Amaretto is a proper substitute.

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!

8 hours ago, bob brown said:

If they want to keep most of AQV's customer's, it might be a good idea to make it happen.  Otherwise, some other player might enter the market, (besides Viking), and take some of them...

🤷‍♂️

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 

1 hour ago, Port Power said:

I haven't been on Celebrity for at least 8 years.

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.

5 hours ago, Tom47 said:

I have rec'd brochures from Vantage Explorations.  They must have purchased Vantage Travel mailing list.

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.