Skeezics

We leave from HK on Dec.  Was wondering if anyone has left for a cruise from HK since the demonstrations began.

Notice you live in SF. There is an easy way to obtain your visa....if you want to do a week in the Southern California Area. You can obtain your visa through the Brazilian Embassy in LA. You take your passport and money in one week and collect it a week later.

You will love the Amazon cruise; especially wonderful was cruising through the Breves Narrows, not all cruise ships can make it through. The Cloud fortunately one of those that can. Enjoy!

Have done both itineraries and both both cruise lines. (Four Seabourn and three Silversea, a fourth coming up in Dec.) Fantastic ports on both cruises. At the present I am a bit fonder of SS. Just got off the Spirit a month ago. Fantastic cruise. Can't go wrong with either line. At this point, think food and service at bit better on SS.

We were on the Legend St. Maarten/StMaarten (14 days). Have sailed with Aaron before...Personally I like him. What's wrong with singing at the drop of a hat? Much better than the CD last December on the Quest.

Thanks for posting. We get on in St. Maarten the 21st of Dec. Was lunch served the day of your embarkation?

I also got a survey but mine did not ask any questions about potential future destinations. Mine was more oriented to market position compared to other lines and possible marketing campaigns.

I also got this survey.....nothing about destinations.

Watched the ship dock from our hotel. Waited a long time for this trip, anxious to get it underway! The Vitale Hotel on the Embarcadero is boutique-y, elegant, hip and well located. If you are a person of certain physical issues (read older and stiffer), like some room around you, prefer a pillow top mattress , a high-riser toilet and a quieter bar, you may want to reconsider. Enjoyed it. Being the oldest people in the bar is not always a bad thing! Good food 1/2 block away, wine bar/restaurant Japanese/Californian, Brasserie Chaya. Interesting detail, the best, most flavorful soy sauce i have ever had. God is in the details, please note, SS. My body was on east coast time, so early to bed. The sun is starting to shine, the Oakland Bay Bridge looks lovely and people are on the streets. Off to the ship shortly.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

The Vitale also has an amazing roof top patio. ( least they did three years ago) Lovely Views--an unusual perk for SF.

We used Luggage Free two years ago (La Jolla/Barbados). Waiting at the hotel when we arrive. Would do it again. No customs problem.

Last summer did the "Midnight Sun" on Oceania Nautica.....was not a wonderful experience....in fact we traveled with another couple and both agreed would not sail on the line again...just a personal preference. I do not consider Oceania a "luxury" line. Crowded buffet in morning and lunch...poor service in the main dining room...waited for ever for service. Found the ship really understaffed. The "happy hour everyday from 5-6 was a nightmare. Had to adjust our times as to not have to fight the hordes that descended upon the public areas for their half priced cocktail.

Have sailed Seabourn three times...the last being the Odyssey (sister to Quest). Nothing but raves about the ship and the cruise line. Are booked again for December.

Pick Seabourn, you will not be sorry!

I've been on both...would go with the less expensive.....really seamless when considering food, cabins and service. I love Seabourn; however, also loved Silversea. Isn't it ridiculous to have to chose between the two best ships (my opinion) on the sea?

Any thoughts on Mt. Nelson Hotel? Beyond its expiration date? Or still okay....some reports on Trip Advisor say it is a faded property. Always wanted to stay here, and will be in CT Jan. of 2016 just off a SS cruise. (Sorry, they have a better itinerary than SB, but will be on the Legend this Xmas...so haven't abandoned you.) Thanks, Barbara

Countess K: Take good care of the Cloud. Have booked the reverse cruise (Mombasa/Capetown for Dec 20-Jan5, 2015 Love the itinerary. We were on the Cloud in 2012 for the Amazon. (Duct Tape was also along) Lovely ship.

Or hire a car from the hotel.

Funny,those are the people that bring a book with them just to reserve a sun bed.:D

 

I saw no evidence of sun bed hogging on the Sojourn at Christmas.

Not the case on our Singapore to Sydney cruise in December.....I usually do not use the pool loungers, but decided to get a few rays on this cruise. Astonished at the number of people who saved their spaces...especially the nice rattan loungers.

Yes, has free weights and at least two benches. I found it to be very well equipped. Three elliptical, at least six treadmills. Believe a stair master and one or two bikes. Also weight machines....one of the better gyms. Used almost every day and was quite satisfied.

We also like the small ships but I was pleasantly surprised when we went on the larger ship....Odyssey....as to how quickly the crew learnt our names and learnt our preferred drinks. But we do talk to the crew quite a bit. I also found the passengers we met on the ship very worldly and well travelled and enjoyed many conversations with them.

 

I have to admit the only thing I was disappointed in was the ability to dance as they tended to keep the guitarist playing too long in the club so it was late before we could dance. People we met on the cruise who had sailed the bigger ships many times told us this hadn't been the case previously, so I had hoped this was a quirk of the Cruise Director. If it isn't we will be giving Seabourn more feedback.

 

We are sailing with the small ships this year but will happily sail on the bigger ones, and will even try the new one when it comes out.........even though we would prefer less then 500 pax.

We were on the Odyssey in December and are dancers....we were so disappointed in the options to dance before and after dinner. Somehow a guitarist isn't what we expected...and the ship's band was so over whelmed by other obligations that they usually didn't start to play for dancing until the show was over, around 10:45. We have sailed on both the Pride and Legend where there was a combo playing for dancing before and after dinner.....no combo on the Odyssey. We are booked on the Legend in December of 2014. Hopefully, there will be improved options for those who like to dance. If not, then I guess we will have to look at Silversea and Regent, who do offer better dancing venues....would be a shame....we do prefer Seabourn. (Did comment on the lack of music for dancing in my online critique.)

We did the Amazon in 2012 on the Cloud. Brazilian Visas are required. If you live near LA a trip one week will result in the visa being ready the following week. We stayed at the Hilton pre cruise.....okay, nothing special; however, did book a suite. Its location is what it has going for it....food wasn't great, the price was reasonable. I just really sat by the pool for two days and enjoyed every moment, since this is not something I normally do. The cruise, itself, is fabulous!

The airport in Mumbai is chaotic, at best. Have the hotel pick you up!

Drron,

Thanks for sharing so much of what was truly a wonderful cruise. I highly recommend it as one type of experience of the Amazon. To me, the highlights were:

1. Breves Narrows which is special because the big ships can't get through it

2. Meeting of the Waters which seems to be unique to the Amazon

3. Being at the Manaus Opera House during an orchestra rehearsal and experiencing the acoustics

4. Watching Silversea donate furniture, food, and clothing to Boca da Valeria villagers

5. The Boi Bumba show which was put on just for us

 

We got to meet some wonderful new friends and reacquaint with "old" ones (we're the Vermont friends ). Apparently the Shadow will be doing this itinerary in the future, so I hope they can get through the narrows.

Champlain:

And one last one: The speed boat trip from Manaus up the Amazon to see the pink dolphins....it was amazing. Almost glad we didn't make it further up on the Cloud to see the same thing...as my husband put it, fulfilled his "need for speed".

Oops, one more: Night hunting for caimans out of Manaus.

Marvelous cruise!!!! Have become a Silversea fan. Looking to book in 2014...(have 2013 already set.)

My husband and I are dancers. We have sailed on the Pride (17 days) and Legend (32 days). We have been quite pleased with the dancing in the Club on both ships...also as stated, the "Rock the Ship" on the deck is always a great evening. The floor is small in the Club, but find that usually you only have about 5 or 6 couples who routinely dance.

Decided to go with Luggage Free. Had a nice chat with a fellow named Marcus. Luggage will be picked up on November 2nd and will arrive in Barbados on the 9th. (they do not deliver on weekends). Our cruise begins the 13th; so plenty of time if life happens. Having it sent directly to our hotel...do not trust that there would be a secure site for storage. As with most cruise ships, ground staff is hired at the port, and loads of ships come through this particular port. Thanks for your input. Really happy with my decision. Will post when return in Dec. and let everyone know how it all worked out.

Thanks everyone for the input. Will go ahead use Luggage Forward. Will have shipped to our hotel rather than the ship. I used FedX years ago to ship ski equipment to a hotel....since this is a non US destination do not feel secure enough to skip the middle layer. According to the website, the price for two 50 lb bags was around $450. Wish me luck!

I have looked through the threads for recent reviews of luggage services....haven't found much. Wonder if anyone has recently used a luggage service that they would recommend.

Web site for Luggage Forward has reasonable prices. Thinking of our up coming Amazon cruise. Flying American, and with their record in the last few weeks worried about missed flights, late flights, you name it. Would allow flexibility if we need to find alternate flights along the way from San Diego to Barbados. Thanks in advance. Barb

Thank you Daniel19. Yes, it was New Island! Never heard the term Shi shi poo poo either, thought it might be a Canadian thing, which might have had its origins across the pond...However, probably just a coined expression.

We did this trip in December, we had good weather, except for two or three days, and only one affected a landing. Had booked for November and decided it was too early. SS only does this run 3 possibly 4 times a season (19 days)...believe their last is in February. Still don't like the idea of large ships in Antarctica. However, if you don't care about the real adventure, in doing landings, then Seabourn may be your answer. Have too many new adventures planned to repeat a path already taken. Love someone to combine Galapagos, Easter Island, and Pitcairn on a cruise, but alas a lot of ocean to cover. Thanks for the enlightenment of PS aka ST....makes sense now.