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I'm trying to decide which ship to do world cruise in 2020. I'm leaning toward Oceania Insignia 162 days SF-SF or Holland America Amsterdam 128 days Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Lauderdale. Am open to others if cost is not prohibitive. If you have any experience with world cruises, I'd love your answers to these questions.

 

1. HAL is much less expensive than Oceania but Oceania has more inclusions such as pre-paid gratuities, unlimited wi-fi and laundry, and cabin credits/shore excursions. Does anyone have experience on HAL that could give me an idea of what laundry and wi-fi for 4 months would run?

 

2. HAL is the only trip that includes Antarctica but there's no going ashore, just 4 days of sailing and seeing the views. What are those days really like? Does it get boring after day 1? Is the water rough in both the crossing and in Antarctica?

 

3. I hear the shore excursions on Oceania leave a lot to be desired. How are the excursions on HAL?

 

4. I've heard the showers on Oceania are tiny. Is that the case? How are the showers on HAL?

 

5. I really like the Crystal Serenity trip but don't like dressing up that much. And I'll be traveling solo. Do you think I'd fit in? (I'll be 56/57.)

 

6. I love Viking's world cruise but that cost is ridiculously high. Is it worth it?

 

Any other feedback, thoughts, suggestions?

 

Thanks,

Jamie

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I bought a laundry package on this year's HAL GWV that only cost about $200 in advance. Well worth it.

 

If you book the HAL GWV before May 31, 2019 you get the following (from website):

Select Ocean-view Staterooms (Cat CA-F)





  • $1,000 Shipboard Credit per Stateroom-$500 per person, based on double occupancy
  • Prepaid Gratuities
  • Luggage Delivery Service For U.S. and Canadian Residents (To/From Ft. Lauderdale only)-2 pieces per guest
  • "Welcome Onboard" Bottle of Sparkling Wine

If you book a Vista Suite (balcony) or higher, you get these perks plus more.

 

 

I spent $1250 on wi-fi (that gave me 5400 minutes - you get bonus minutes for ordering on line before the cruise). I write a blog and need more time than many passengers.

 

 

Many of the cabins on the Amsterdam still have tubs with showers. I have not been in a cabin with just a shower.

 

 

The HAL excursions are average for cruise lines. I have been on some that were amazing and a few that were awful.

 

 

Never been on Crystal so I can't help you there.

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Re your item 5, I was on Crystal Serenity's world cruise in 2016. While I was traveling with a friend, I met (and became friends with) quite a few people traveling solo. Crystal does a great job of catering to solos. And because of its relatively low single supplement, it gets quite a few. So, yes, I think you'd fit in as a solo.

 

I do recommend Crystal for a world cruise. They are really strong on onboard experiences. Like most cruise lines, their excursions are a mixed bag. Some great, some weak. We mixed in going off on our own, getting private guides (often teaming up with others on the ship).

 

Happy to answer any questions you might have re this ship's world cruise.

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I did the 2016 Oceania w/c and am booked for the 2020 180 day version. In 2016 I did not do any O excursions but do plan to do some in 2020. There were plenty of people that did all O tours except for cities where you can walk around on your own. I never heard of any complaints other than cost.

 

The washrooms are small but there is enough room to do your business in there and that is what counts to me.

 

In 2016 there were a couple of single men and around a dozen single ladies (a few of those were sharing with other singles). People doing the full voyage were mostly over 65 but some younger. About 200 people did the full voyage and the remainder were doing segments which brought down the average age.

 

I was 1 of 2 people doing a 'live from' report here on CC for the 2016 voyage. I copied everything to a word doc and if you would like a copy send an email to waynesmithtor AT yahoo Dot ca (not com)

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We completed an entire WC in 2015 aboard Sun Princess. It could best be described as underwhelming.

 

For 2020, we have booked the Viking Ocean LA to London, departing Jan 4th. While 119 days, it is the 2nd half of the 245 day London to London. The brochure price appears significantly higher than other WC's, but I estimate the true daily rate will be similar to our 2015 cruise, or slightly less. Our SP balcony cabin was a little more than 1/2 the size of the Viking cabin.

 

The additional time limited perks and regular Viking features make this cruise all-inclusive, which includes:

- Transfers to/from the ship

- Shipping luggage to the ship

- Business class airfares

- Drinks package, nearly all drinks are included

- Gratuities

- Viking pays to acquire all Visas

- Unlimited wi-fi

- Free self-service laundry

- No charge specialty restaurants

- Unlimited access to Thermal Suite

- Included excursion in every port

- Resident onboard historian

- Total OBC $8,800

 

Just as important, Viking does not have:

- Casino

- Ulta annoying photogs

- Formal nights

 

We compared 2020 WC's from both Viking & Oceania and we found they both provided almost identical perks. Reports indicate Oceania, may have a slight edge in food. What swung us to Viking was the itinerary, the the Viking cruise goes West, while Oceania spends a considerable time going East.

 

While mainstream mega ship lines have lower brochure fares, in our experience, if you do a WC right, the total cost on a mega ship will be very similar to the upscale smaller ships of Viking & Oceania.

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Jamie, we did the 2016 ATW 180 on Oceania. The laundry service was wonderful. Wash and press, definitely a perk I wasn’t expecting to be so good. Luggage delivery was also a big plus. In 6 months I used the free medical twice, which included meds and X-rays.

I only took private tours, so no comment on Oceania tours.. they seemed expensive. They are doing a major overhaul of the cabins, so no idea what they will be like then. The beds are definitely the best! High quality linens too. We are taking the 2019 also, repeat club perks are nice too, and given at the start of the cruise.

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Re Crystal, I forgot to address the dressing up issue. They do have some black tie optional evenings--emphasis on optional. I found myself opting for something less than formal after the first couple of such evenings. I'd say that more than half the passengers did the same. Other evenings are "smart casual" (or some other such terminology). I haven't been on HAL in a couple of decades, and have never cruised O, so am not sure what those lines' dress codes are in the evening, but all other lines I have been on use the same "smart casual" code.

 

So, I guess I'm saying that, at least by my frame of reference, I don't find Crystal that dressy.

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4 days of sightseeing in Antarctica will probably leave you with wishing for more. That is how I now feel after my December/January cruise on the Zaandam. Boring: No. Weather: it will be what it is. (We had a day and a half of clear, blue skies, light winds, sunshine. The other days were rain, fog, light snow, more wind, and colder. Rough seas? King Neptune will decide what it will be when your ship is in the Drake Passage. Could it be? Yes, but, if so, as our Captain did, your Captain's navigation plan will ensure your best comfort and safety. If King Neptune is in a good mood, be thankful for calm winds and following seas.

 

The wildlife and the unusual ice formations that one sees helps to make a visit to Antarctica special.

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  • 3 weeks later...

We were on HAL’s WC this year and loved it. We’ve signed up for 2020 because it does Antarctica which we loved the last time we did it...also Chile and penguins. Don’t forget opportunities for overland trips in Africa for safaris. We did a 4-day one and loved it. Our travel agency offers several that were better and cheaper than HAL’s. So, don’t overlook opportunities to do overlands that add to your experience (and cost.) We have free laundry on HAL but I only spent $200 for Internet. We have T-Mobil that gave us internet connection in most ports .

 

 

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