southerngoose

Hi!  I would like to go to a sheep farm and have them talk about the sheep and then shear a sheep.   Bonus if there's any demo/discussion of washing/carding the wool after it was removed from the sheep and a sheep/wool related gift shop.   I found Sheepworld in Auckland that seemed to be a good idea, but I'm not sure the tour will work with the schedule.   I am cruising from Sydney, to New Zealand, ending in Auckland.  I'm doing a B2B on the same ship.   The second cruise leaves Auckland and returns to Auckland.   At this time, they only do the shows on Fri, Sat, Sun.   The tour may be too long for the day that I arrive in Auckland after the first cruise and I return on a Wed.   If I have no other option, I could fly out on Saturday after the second cruise, but I'd rather not do that.

Are there other sheep farms/shows in the Auckland area?   I looked at the sheep excursion but it didn't include shearing the sheep.    I'd consider another New Zealand city, if there was a recommended farm.   Any guidance is appreciated.  The sheep have been on my bucket list for awhile.  I'm a knitter/spinner.

I have no issue with lots of non-English speaking folks aboard, but frankly, I think it'd be very difficult for me to go on a German speaking cruise where the lectures (which you said you wanted) would be in German.   My German isn't good, but maybe yours is?   I was looking at Ponant and had no fear because my French is good enough to get through the lectures.    

Have you tried to find YouTube videos from people who went on the cruises you want?   I saw where one Ponant cruise made you wash your own boots with a brush and I was not impressed (or maybe I was extremely impressed, in a negative way).   So I would have to confirm that it's a newer ship with the boot washing machine.   Apparently, I'm the only one concerned about that and the smells.   But I learned from YouTube that my ideal time is November...pristine snow.   🙂   March is whale season, but you wanted Penguins and apparently, they are out in Nov, however, it's pre-chick season.    I learned that the high season is Dec/Jan.   

I noticed that the bargains (like no single supplement) are Nov and March.   I heard that March is too late for penguins and more about whales.   I want penguins and I want to minimize the poop mud.   I also don't want to pay the airfare at holiday seasons  (Christmas/New Years).

From my observation, you might consider Hurtigruten since they offer no single supplement for the less popular voyages.   The one I want is on a ship with no balcony...which is not ideal so I am going to keep shopping.   Also consider 2 days in the Falklands and 2 days in South Georgia.  If you watch the videos, you can decide for yourself if you care about those areas or just want to do the peninsula and some other areas in South America.

@PerfectlyPerth  Dumb question - what happened to your camera if you were submerged?  Do you carry it in a waterproof bag?

@Bella0714  Which cruise line did you do an expedition for $3900 booking a month in advance?   Also, in March, are there penguins?  I heard that they are gone by then.  😞 

I read this thread and decided that I needed a repair kit.   I was at the dentist and asked him and he said "Oh, we can give you something for free".   WHOA!   The reason I asked is because I was a wee bit concerned about what these drug store kits contained and whether the dentist might have trouble getting it off to fix it or it may not be good for your teeth etc.   This may also be the reason why he just gives you something, just in case.  🙂  I like free.   I feel no guilt...he gets plenty of my money for my mouth of dental work.

Does anyone know if there is a limit on bottled water, San Pelligrino and such on the Zero Proof package?   It does seem expensive (I'm used to fountain soda package for like $11/day).   But if they're offering bottled water that I could take on tour and just to drink in the room, it may be worth it to me.   Note: I'm not trying to take advantage, but at the same time, I don't want there to be a secret limit of one bottle of water and one smoothie or something like that.   I'm normally a heavy water/carbonated water drinker.

How do you find out the cost of the specialty dining?   I looked and it doesn't seem to indicate a cost, unless it's next to the food you're ordering.

Hi...Does anyone know whether the Celebrity Edge has a buffet?   Also, there are "specialty restaurants", but the sample menu doesn't have prices (it has a price for drinks but not always for the food).   Does this mean that the food is included?   I noticed some restaurants have prices next to the food but some don't.   I tend to eat at the buffet, instead of the main dining room so I'm getting concerned if there is an extra charge at specialty restaurants and no buffet.

@Tahitianbigkahuna   Thanks...I'll call and ask.  Their math is a bit odd...maybe it's a web issue.

@Tahitianbigkahuna   Any thoughts on Paul Gauguin as a solo cruiser?   I REALLY want a balcony and I would prefer a longer cruise (12-14 days).   I looked for the "zero single supplement" cruises and could be ok with the category D cabin for approx $10k, but when I try to book it, it is $15k.   Is there a reason why it's $10k per person, double occupancy but $15k as a single with "zero single supplement"?   Is there any other trick that I'm missing?   I'm ok with the $10k fare + air and excursions, but $15k is a bit much for me, after adding all the add ons.   Ideas are greatly appreciated.   Windstar has no balcony and I have been convinced that Paul Gauguin is the "right" ship...

Hi...can anyone tell me whether the penguins smell or am I only worried about penguin poop?   I like the idea of the painter booties.

You can "pretend" to book a cruise online.  You know if it's full based on the number of cabins that you can choose from.  

I went to Alaska on one of the first cruises of the season (so it was a lower priced cruise).   With airfare, one person in a balcony was approx $3500 for 14(?) days.   So I wouldn't consider a late season cruise in a porthole at that price a bargain.   The balcony was great to enjoy the whales and dolphins.

Frankly, I'm not booking any travel at this point.   I had prebooked a cruise to the Panama Canal for late Jan 2021 because I wanted a certain class of cabin and history was showing that if I waited until now to book, the cabins in the class I wanted would be booked.    After having to cancel my trip to Switzerland for this year, I will be heartbroken to cancel another.  This is getting expensive...    I'm hoping that a "covered reason" will allow me to lose the least amt on my trip to Switzerland.   I can cancel for any reason for the Panama trip, but that insurance was $550 - I'd rather go and pay the money than lose the insurance and the 25%!    This year is staycation year.

I read that the cruise lines tend to upgrade the people who paid "full price" for the inside/oceanview cabins.   That will then open up the insides and ocean view cabins to be discounted.   The reason is because they want to minimize discounting the higher class cabins (not sure how an "upgraded" cabin isn't a discount...but that's the way the story read).   

If you're buying the deeply discounted insides 1 mo before sailing, I wouldn't expect to get an upgrade (though, if you get one, be thrilled.  :)   )

I went to Alaska earlier in May and I had a balcony for the first time.   I enjoyed being able to pop up and look outside everytime someone saw a dolphin or whales.  I just threw my coat on and looked outside.   

I know that staying on your balcony is some sort of sin, but I tried the promenade deck, the upper deck and the balcony.   I enjoyed my balcony and didn't feel like I missed a thing.  Maybe I missed some dolphins on the other side, but be real...there were so many that missing a few wasn't missing much.   With the crowds and such, it's hard to shift quickly from one side to another fast enough for a whale or dolphin!     Wild life seemed to be cooperating well and were on both sides so if you stayed on one side of the ship, you got 1/2.   Glad they were being sooo cooperative!

Sunrise and sunset were also beautiful from the balcony.    I saw many other balcony enjoyers out there with me.  :)

Man...the last time I was on Royal, they had balls and no ipads!   It's been awhile since I have been on a cruise...   I really enjoyed losing $35/day on bingo.   Now, it's $60 and you don't even enjoy it.  😞

Dumb question since I've never seen bingo without the balls or anything.   Is there any fun in watching?   Or is that fun gone too?   I often play but $60 is a bit rich for me.   If no one is playing, then I can't imagine the pot to be too large and if too many people are playing, then the likelihood of winning gets a bit too low.   

When you're booking private tours with people you don't know, you take a risk.   

1. Risk that the tour won't happen and you "lose" the day because you can't make alternate plans and you are walking around the port
2. Risk that the person will take your money
3. Risk that you aren't taken to the places promised
4. Don't even want to discuss other possible risks (not returning to the ship on time, being robbed etc)

Having said that, I think there are legit folks who pay $x for a van and the van holds 12 and you only have 4 folks in your family, why not split?  I also can imagine "entrepreneurs" who book their own buses!

The last time I did this was actually a pre-cruise hotel and bus ride.   Everyone made their own arrangement at the hotel, but one lady booked 2 buses to take us to the port.     Well...I get to the hotel, they are "overbooked" (tiny hotel...probably filled with us cruisers) but it's no problem, they will let me stay at the sister property up the street.  (yeah, like a 20 min walk!)    I resisted...I said "but my cruisemates are HERE!"   I was unable to communicate with the group (this was years ago).   The hotel finally agreed to pay for the taxi ride to the other hotel and return taxi to their hotel so that I could meet the bus.  Well, luckily, I came early because in the meanwhile, everyone decided to leave early!   I got there in time to gather up to load on the bus.   The organizer paid for both buses, wouldn't accept money upfront (it was 8 euros per person so I had no problem sending her $10 or whatever).   Had they left without me, I could have gotten a taxi or whatever and found my way.   In retrospect, this might have been a good risk.   But I'm not sure I'd do it again.

I'm glad to hear that the chair would be available upon request.   🙂

I decided to carry my US Passport card with me.   Admittedly, you can't fly using a card, but it is an official government document proving citizenship.  I just put it in my shoe, in case it becomes necessary.    I struggle with the "ship leaves without me and I have no passport" concern, then there's the "what if my passport is stolen while out and about" concern and my only "balance" is to leave the passport safe on the ship and take the card with me.  

One thing I learned from a guy who traveled internationally on business in high risk areas - robbers rarely check your shoes.   So I put enough cash to get a taxi to the consulate and my passport card and a spare credit card (2 shoes = plenty of room under the insole, I can't even feel it)

13 minutes ago, 4cats4me said:

Wouldn’t the best protest be to book with a different cruise line until Princess gets its act together ? 

If I had known about the chair issue before I booked non-refundable airline tickets, hotel etc, I would have cancelled the cruise.   I assure you, there will not be future cruises on Princess.   Royal Caribbean is similar price and I can have a sofa in an inside cabin.

sigh...I'll have to make a new lanyard with a holder.  

Hi...I'm quickly learning not to assume anything.   I was assuming that everyone is issued a card that is used to unlock the cabin door, charge on board purchases etc.   

1. Do we get a card?
2. If you do, how do you hold it?   
3. If I want to wear the card on a lanyard, will they punch a hole in the card for me or do I need to bring a hole punch too?

I have gotten $100 per day on a transatlantic in an inside.   $200-$300 for a more popular destination in an inside/ocean view.   The prices can skyrocket from there in a better cabin.

Is it possible to get the main dining room selection as room service or "To go"?  I don't want to have an elegant, long, drawn out meal.   I just want some nice food.