scotsahoy

Many thanks Grandma Cruising; yes, we received an e mail inviting us to bid for a veranda, which made me think there maybe was slight possibility some cabins were available despite web site showing as sold out. A few clicks later and our bid was in!

Upgraded from Oceanview (04) to Veranda (V2 ).

Asked to bid 8 October and submitted bid that evening. Heard 9 October been successful - 10 days before cruise.

Consulted Grandma Cruising's speadsheet first which found most helpful and surprised to be successful as veranda category was showing "sold out".

Cruise date - 19 October; 7 nights

Loyalty level - Explorer

Min bid - £330 (£165 pp)

Bid - £340 (£170 pp); bid = "weak"

Cabin type booked - Oceanview

Cabin bid for  - Veranda

Bid cost per night - £48.57

11 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

After weighing up the pros and cons and following the very strong advice from my brother (G.P.) and my own G.P., at the ages of 69 and 75 we had the Yellow Fever vaccination about 10 days ago.

 

I had advice from the ship that YF status would not be checked prior to boarding, but one should check with the airline for their requirements to board a flight to Rio De Janeiro.

 

I had the following advice from the Brazilian Consulate in Australia :

"It’s not mandatory to be immunized against yellow fever to enter Brazil, nor any other infectious disease. However, it is strongly recommended to do so."

also

"The presentation of the Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is compulsory if the traveler is coming from a Yellow Fever country. For instance if you will visit Peru and Bolivia before going into Brazil you will be asked to provide the YF vaccination certificate upon entry into Brazil. The same applies if you will be visiting African countries (except South Africa), before visiting Brazil."

 

Hoping everyone stays well and we all enjoy a pleasant cruise!

 

 

 

Aged 63 and 65, our travel clinic in Edinburgh also recommended we have YF vaccination due to present outbreaks in Rio and Salvador and high risk if we caught yellow fever.  Now had vaccination which lasts lifetime. Also advised can buy mosquito wristbands which have been proving effective.

Tickets can be purchased in advance or on the day at entry gate; prices for 22nd are showing £80 if purchased before end April ( c 112 dollars) and £90 after that, so the price you are being quoted seems quite expensive if just transport and entry for day. Maybe you could hire a taxi with others to take you there and back? Enjoy!

Many thanks Phil. See you’re on this cruise too.

Anne

Yes, can’t now see on Azamara site, but see on another site cabins still available, so not sold out. We’re on this cruise so curious as to why been removed!

Yes, I’m confused as well; maybe you have to phone up to find out what the additional savings are; you’d think they would have tried to make it a bit clearer though, but I may be missing something.

 

 

Two views of you leaving Leith on Tuesday night Steve - unusually clear evening, the Forth Bridges are in the background of one.

 

 

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Nice photos; having been on Journey and living in Edinburgh we came to Ocean Terminal on way home on Sunday evening to welcome everyone on board with a wave as the ship docked - unfortunately it was unable to dock at the port as it has before, so I doubt we were seen! Hope you all are having a great time.

The Esala Petahera Celebration is normally held in July/August, given how far Kandy is from Colombo are you sure it's not a reinactment of it in Colombo? We went to Kandy when we were on the Spice Route cruise a couple of years ago, we went on the Viceroy Express Train excursion and that took 3 hours !

Yes, we did same trip to Kandy and it could take even longer if go by road re traffic; if look at excursion brochure, looks like evening is a reinactment in Colombo as Azamrajunkie suggests. Enjoy.

Agree with Bonnie re pricing possibly going up.......but not necessarily nearer time of cruise; whilst on Quest in November, we priced a veranda cabin for Australia to Asia voyage in March 2018 and it has already increased by over £1,000 pp in 3 months which makes a bit of a mockery of BOGOH offer on this cruise.

We were on the same cruise Bonnie ( met you briefly at the cc meeting) and attended the wonderful Azamazing evening; the huge amount of organisation was so evident, finishing with Crew waiting to greet us with a drink on our return.

Whatever happens, you don't need tickets in advance -you can just turn up on day and pay. St Andrews is a very special place. Enjoy.