tunaman2011

Greetings

We are just a little over 3 weeks out from a trip on Dawn. Does SilverSea mail the luggage tags or do you have to print them yourself? If you have to print them then where do you find them?

Thanks for any help.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

I have multiple Blacklane transfers from SilverSea in my Blacklane account. Does each passenger need to book a Blacklane reservation or is the reservation for both travelers? Does SilverSea use Blacklane for the airport to ship and ship to airport transfers instead of busses?

Thanks for any help.

Good Sailing

Tom 

Greetings

We had the same thing happen in December. Just outside after walking through the customs booths there were busses waiting to take passengers back to Terminal J. They loaded the bags under the bus then traveled to the front of Terminal J where they dropped us off.

Good Sailing

Tom

9 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Just a comment about POM and Pt Everglades.  We have never paid attention to advance pier assignments.  On the day of the cruise we will sometimes look at our online Marine AIS program which shows us exactly where each ship is docked (AIS is an onboard signal sent to both satellite and ground stations).  And when you drive up to the ports entrance, there is a display that shows where each ship is docked or, if you can't read, you can simply ask the gate security person.  

 

Hank

Greetings

No gate in Miami only at Port Everglades so there is no security guards at the entrance. At Miami you simply drive through the tunnel or over the bridge onto Dodge Island. Terminal J is the hardest to reach since you are routed through many of the north terminals if you use the tunnel. A simpler route is taking the bridge when departing from Terminal J.

Any of the Ship Tracking sites will show you where your ship is docked or you can visit the Port Miami web cam and see where the ships are docked.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

Yes there is seating inside Terminal J. You choose your check-in time when you complete the on-line check-in which opens 21 days before sailing.  Boarding usually begins around 11 AM with suites first to be called. Staterooms are ready later in the afternoon and will be announced on a deck by deck basis. You can have lunch, explore the ship, have a drink or four until the rooms are ready you just have to keep your carry-on with you.

Good Sailing

Tom

1 minute ago, Howellmc said:

It really was unfathomable. When the on-board oceanographer estimated that A23-A was 750 times bigger than the huge one we went around yesterday, that just blew my mind.

Greetings

It is over 1,500 square miles of ice. That's about 3 times the size of Manhattan.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

We sailed on Vista back in December and was very pleased that the Oceania web site finally gave us the ability to upgrade the bev package before boarding. It makes boarding day simpler if you do not have to wait at guest services to get your cruise cards reprinted. We are back on Vista in just a couple of weeks and the web site doesn't seem to have that feature anymore. Has anyone been able to upgrade their package on-line lately? Thanks for any insights from other travelers.

Good Sailing

Tom

1 hour ago, SophieM said:

Not that anyone flying out of Santiago in the near future will read this thread, but….We were on an AA flight that left at midnight. Got to the airport at 7 and were able to check in right away, including bag drop. We sailed through security and didn’t have to remove anything from our carry ons, including liquids. I thought suh-weeet! Great news so far. The AA website for lounge access said One World Sapphire and Emerald could use either of two Latam lounges, even though I questioned that twice directly with AA because the wording was confusing and as recently as the day before we flew. AA contact assured me we did have access. Strutted right up to the counter with another couple that we were pretty sure we could include as guests. Welp, AA hasn’t had lounge access with Latam for THREE years. Slightly embarrassing. Very nice Latam guy pointed us to the Pacific Princess lounge that does admit AA. Off we trotted (it’s a big airport). We were able to enter that lounge. To say it was minimalist is being generous. It was also full to the gills, literally no place to sit, and worst of all, no alcohol since they hadn’t gotten their license. And it had tons of families with young children. We left. Fortunately, as we were waiting for the elevator, we noticed the lounge next door took Priority Pass, and the couple with us were members. It was much nicer and not crowded while we were there. When it was time to board, I stopped and bought a bottle of water. When boarding was called, I noticed about a dozen terminal employees were lined up with tables in the jet bridge where they searched carryons and promptly confiscated my unopened water bottle because “the U.S. doesn’t allow liquids over 3 ounces.”  *****?? I asked why do they even sell water after security then?? But, I rant. Sorry. The only other semi-interesting thing was all electronics had to be completely powered down for taxi and takeoff. That was a first for us. 

Greetings

Latam is part of the Delta SkyTeam alliance so I am surprised an AA rep thought you would have access to their lounge. Just flew Latam back from Santiago 2 weeks ago and we had a Delta ticket (it was a code share flight). My DW was very upset when they took her just purchased water at the jetway. She ranted about how they sell water behind the security checkpoints but still confiscate it.

Good Sailing

Tom

23 hours ago, ORV said:

So we’re in Ushuaia today, the southern most city in the world. Fun little town. We went for about a 3 hour walk in the woods on our tour. It was a 3 hiker icon. First time one of those was any type of challenge for us. Or maybe it’s been the 20 or 30 pounds I’ve put on in the last year or so. Soon as I get home I’m going to get on the Drew Carey/ Kelly Clarkson/ Oprah plan, whatever that is. 
 

Weather once again was great. The naturalists are very worried about that hole in the ozone and what it means to this area. 

Greetings

Puerto Williams Chile which lies on the south side of the Beagle channel is further south. Argentina claims it is not a city but it contains a navy base, an airport and a cruise ship dock. Chile claims it as the most southern city.

Good Sailing

Tom

18 hours ago, MarkWiltonM said:

 

We just got off Vista and the chair hogs were terrible. We could not find a chaise in the shade on most days. Vista has created partitions for small-group chaise seating behind the first row of chaises closest to the pool. Those partitions are very attractive and many of those chaises in the partitions face toward the sea  (looking out of floor-to-ceiling windows), which is very nice. However, although the design is wonderful it reduces the total number of chaises that have shade. At the same time that we were unable to get a chaise in the shade, there were always chaises available in the sun. Most of us of a certain age don't need to further damage our skin by baking in the sun. Not having adequate chaises in the shade is like not having adequate tables for two in the specialty restaurants. Oceania could have addressed these issues in the design of Vista but chose not to. We have never been unable to find a shady spot on R-class and O-class ships. (Otherwise, we love love love Vista and can't wait for our cruise on Allura in 2025, with Marina in the interim.)

Greetings

MY DW and myself were on the 01 December Vista cruise and I was amazed. I would walk across the pool deck on my way to the gym at 0600 and there already more chairs with items "reserving" them than I could count. Nothing was open on the ship except the gym. Did these people do this before bed time or did they get up before sun up?

God Sailing

Tom

Greetings

So we went ahead and booked a trip during the Black Friday sales. We board an Oceania ship this week. Since we booked less than 30 days before our cruise does that mean we can see the on board rep and get the extra benefits applied to the cruise we just booked?

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

Does anyone know the current amount of OBC offered when booking your next cruise while onboard?

Thanks 

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

This is not new. Birth Certificates can only be used on Closed Loop Cruises. Even if the ABC islands didn't require a passport you would still need one on this cruise since it is not a closed loop.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

Thanks for the info. Now I at least have a starting point. I will plan on going the the theater as soon as we board the ship.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

Does Prima have a reservations desk where you can make/change your restaurant reservations? I cannot find one on the deck plans. It's our first time on this class of ship after many cruises on the Away ships and I am not sure where everything is located. Thanks

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

If you want to have the experience of a dress up cruise where there are still nights where passengers are expected to don their finest togs then you will have to step up the lux cruise lines. Cunard still has dress up as does Silversea. You will pay dearly compared to NCL for that option. Most the lines have gone to "resort casual" dress although some still have optional dress up nights such as Celebrity which has "Chic Night". But these are optional dress up nights and there are fewer and fewer passengers who lug extra clothes (and extra baggage weight) as time goes on.

Good Sailing

Tom

1 hour ago, ORV said:

Historically it's been Guest Services. Things are a changing though. Just check when you get onboard. 

Greetings

Yes, you have to go to Guest Services because they need to print you a new card showing the package upgrade.  There are often bar personnel handing out the upgrade form but you still need your card updated.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

I have what should be a simple question to answer but I realize dress code discussions are always anything but simple. We will be on Silver Dawn and would like to know where (besides our room) can we dine on the formal nights without a tie. I don't care that ties are simple to pack etc,etc I have refused wearing ties since I retired many years ago.

Good Sailing

Tom

34 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

I know the ships have usb ports. Most of my devices use it. However, I just got new phone which uses a usc port for charging.  Sailing on Mars soon. Does it have usc port connections? 

Greetings

USC is a school in California. What you have is a USB-C connector. The rooms have the traditional USB-A outlets. You can find USB-C to USB-A adapters on Amazon and many retailers. Another option is buying a USB-C charging block which plugs into the standard wall sockets.

Good Sailing

Tom

7 hours ago, cruiseaholic78 said:

One not mentioned yet is Azamara, similar R ships to Oceania but personally our preferred line. Tips are included as are most drinks at all times, small ship, great library (except Azamara Onward). Hop over to the Azamara board they are a very friendly bunch even though at the moment there have been some glitches due to their new computer system.

Happy planning

Greetings

Onward doesn't have a library but instead has a very good craft bar in it's place. We are the "bar people" you will find every evening (and some afternoons) at one of the ship's bars. We really enjoyed the "Atlas Bar" on board the Onward. We cruise Oceania very often. They are more old school with the dark wood and comfy sofas. Just off a Viking Ocean a few weeks back. The bartenders were very good and indeed could make almost anything. The beer selection was good but were mainly bottles. Viking's decor is "Glass and Chrome" but the service was top notch.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

Thanks for the help, I have downloaded the app and will take it for a spin as soon as we board. I've seen lots of "food porn" from Viking Ocean ships and are really looking forward to our trip.

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

We are on Viking Ocean in a couple of weeks. I've seen here that one can make on board reservations for the specialties. Where on the ship do you make the reservations? Is there a central reservation desk for the restaurants? Thanks for you assistance.

Good Sailing

Tom

38 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

And in the Patio

Thank You for the reply.

36 minutes ago, Scots Caz said:

there is food set up in Windows when boarded

Thank You.  I was thinking that we would have to wait until dinner. It does seem like a very late time to begin the boarding.  Do they still serve afternoon tapas in The Living Room?

Good Sailing

Tom

Greetings

Does this mean that there was no lunch service on boarding day? I guess that's one way to reduce cost.

Good Sailing

Tom