Alltravels Posted August 1, 2011 #101 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I was really anxious to hear about the ports, the tours and especially the weather, both on board and ashore. We sail in just a few weeks but are also doing a pre and post cruise stay (Denali and Vancouver) so packing and portability are real issues. I'm really not sure what to take (lined hooded jacket or thin rain proof shell over fleece? Jeans, capris, shorts? Sneakers or leather hiking shoes?) I know about layering, but any first-hand experience from your sailing would be appreciated. Thanks Marlene for that wonderful description of the Tracy Arm excursion. But I can't seem to find it anywhere in our package from Oceania. Was it from Juneau? all the talk about layering is absolutely correct. one thing we did was to pack as if we were taking two trips. denali is TOTALLY informal, so we packed one suitcase for those five days and all the 'cruise clothes' in another case. in fact, when we left anchorage for denali, the second suitcase was stowed separately, so we never saw it until it was delivered to our cabin. the less to schlep the better.... one thing i will invest in for our next trip to alaska (this was our second, and there will be another some time hence) is a telephoto lens with image stabilization. while i have a 70-300mm zoom, it is very difficult to handle at 300mm while you're on the denali bus (or on a boat). almost as difficult when standing still on dry land. these lenses are expensive, but the results are well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillianrose Posted August 1, 2011 #102 Share Posted August 1, 2011 The reason the summer sailings are doing better is that they were so heavily discounted with large onboard credits. That's not a business model Oceania wants to offer fleetwide and all over the world. I have seen Caribbean and European cruises on Oceania with similar discounts, so how is that different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 2, 2011 #103 Share Posted August 2, 2011 I have seen Caribbean and European cruises on Oceania with similar discounts, so how is that different? I'm sure that you knew the answer to this, even before you posted the question The difference is that in the Caribbean and in Europe, other sailings on those same ships are still selling out (or close to it) without benefit of those discounts; giving the cruise line an opportunity to recoup some money This is one of those situations where the economic realities make me unhappy, because I too would love to see more cruises out of San Francisco. Unfortunately, because the modern cruiser is often loathe to repeat itineraries within a ten year period, and most of Oceania's core demographic has already "done" Alaska and the Mexican Riviera, Northern California is a very hard sell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted August 2, 2011 #104 Share Posted August 2, 2011 because I too would love to see more cruises out of San Francisco. Unfortunately, because the modern cruiser is often loathe to repeat itineraries within a ten year period, and most of Oceania's core demographic has already "done" Alaska and the Mexican Riviera, Northern California is a very hard sell. Oh, I don't buy that logic. Who amongst the Oceania's core hasn't "done" the Caribbean and the Med (over and over) and Oceania still goes there. I think it has more to do with the competition to Alaska? How about doing a San Francisco - Alaska - Vladivostok - Northern Japan, etc itinerary. I bet not many Oceania core cruisers have done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted August 2, 2011 #105 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Oh, I don't buy that logic. Who amongst the Oceania's core hasn't "done" the Caribbean and the Med (over and over) and Oceania still goes there.I think it has more to do with the competition to Alaska? How about doing a San Francisco - Alaska - Vladivostok - Northern Japan, etc itinerary. I bet not many Oceania core cruisers have done that. I have done that cruise on Princess for 19 days from Osaka to Vancouver before Oceania or even Ren was started..it was snowing every where we went (Dutch Harbor was a storm) but a great cruise..we leave for Alaska August 14 and cant wait..of course I cant wait for any cruise..LOL Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 2, 2011 #106 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Oh, I don't buy that logic. Who amongst the Oceania's core hasn't "done" the Caribbean and the Med (over and over) and Oceania still goes there.I think it has more to do with the competition to Alaska? How about doing a San Francisco - Alaska - Vladivostok - Northern Japan, etc itinerary. I bet not many Oceania core cruisers have done that. Paul- Great minds indeed think alike. A San Francisco to Japan cruise (via the Aleutians) was one of my submissions in the "New Itinerary Contest". Oceania opted to go with a most inventive (but all Alaska) route suggested by Hondorner. In fact, he just got back from that cruise. As I understand it, the logistics of crossing the Pacific that far North would have made my suggestion a 5 week cruise which could not be attempted past a July sailing date. Losing that many weeks of July and August would have cut out two, possibly three, "lucrative" all Alaska cruises, so my suggestion was rejected. Ah well, maybe next time......:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wripro Posted August 2, 2011 #107 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Silversea usually does that itinerary on the Shadow when it ends its Alaska season and heads for the Far East season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 2, 2011 #108 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Why not do a Canada /New England cruise in the spring before heading to Europe:D No hurricanes to worry about in the spring ;) They could do the Panama, then a Caribbean cruise or 2 then head to Montreal for a couple of trips between NYC then across the pond Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted August 2, 2011 #109 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Why not do a Canada /New England cruise in the spring before heading to Europe:D No hurricanes to worry about in the spring ;) They could do the Panama, then a Caribbean cruise or 2 then head to Montreal for a couple of trips between NYC then across the pond Lyn Believe it or not they are doing it in September again on the new itins that will be out in the end of September!! Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted August 2, 2011 #110 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Believe it or not they are doing it in September again on the new itins that will be out in the end of September!!Jancruz1 So now it is the end of September and not the middle of August :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 2, 2011 #111 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Believe it or not they are doing it in September again on the new itins that will be out in the end of September!!Jancruz1 Jan I would rather go in May or June when the seas may be better & the weather Sept you run the risk of storms going up the coast :eek: Oh well i guess if I want to go in the spring I will have to resort to sailing on HAL:( Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted August 3, 2011 #112 Share Posted August 3, 2011 So now it is the end of September and not the middle of August :confused: Sorry, I hear they had to make a lot of changes. Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillianrose Posted August 6, 2011 #113 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Believe it or not they are doing it in September again on the new itins that will be out in the end of September!!Jancruz1 What is it that they will be doing next September and on which ship? What are the changes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitraveler Posted August 7, 2011 #114 Share Posted August 7, 2011 They called these fall foliage cruises, hard to do in the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 7, 2011 #115 Share Posted August 7, 2011 They called these fall foliage cruises, hard to do in the spring. They could call them New England/Canada cruises & do them in the spring :D Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 7, 2011 #116 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Believe it or not they are doing it in September again on the new itins that will be out in the end of September!!Jancruz1 Are they changing the 2012 Itineraries or do you mean Sept 2013? Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillianrose Posted August 7, 2011 #117 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Are they changing the 2012 Itineraries or do you mean Sept 2013? That's what I'd like to know, too, because from what I can see, there are no fall foliage cruises on Oceania for 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queenk2 Posted August 8, 2011 #118 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Just back from the July 23 sailing. The weather was very lovely, but cold. We had amazingly sunny days while cruising the glaciers. The ports themselves were quite ordinary if one didn't take shore excursions.We saw amazing wildlife. The AnAn bear sanctuary was a highlight...so ,many black and brown bears. We did all excursions other than the ATV excursion in Sitka privately. I found them to be much more personal and far less expensive. Oceania excursion to AnAn approximately 600 per couple, they spent 45 minutes there. Private 350- we had a far longer visit. Michelle with Island winds WONDERFUL! Temsco helicopter, a real experience. All in all a terrific trip. The only downer for us was the quality of the spa on the Regatta. I had high expectations for massage, hair etc., but the quality was just not what I have experienced elsewhere. We really loved the small ship, especially in Alaska. We used our balcony and would do it all again in a heartbeat! Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted August 8, 2011 #119 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Are they changing the 2012 Itineraries or do you mean Sept 2013? Lyn 2013 Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted August 8, 2011 #120 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Just back from the July 23 sailing. The weather was very lovely, but cold. We had amazingly sunny days while cruising the glaciers. The ports themselves were quite ordinary if one didn't take shore excursions.We saw amazing wildlife. The AnAn bear sanctuary was a highlight...so ,many black and brown bears. We did all excursions other than the ATV excursion in Sitka privately. I found them to be much more personal and far less expensive. Oceania excursion to AnAn approximately 600 per couple, they spent 45 minutes there. Private 350- we had a far longer visit. Michelle with Island winds WONDERFUL! Temsco helicopter, a real experience. All in all a terrific trip. The only downer for us was the quality of the spa on the Regatta. I had high expectations for massage, hair etc., but the quality was just not what I have experienced elsewhere.We really loved the small ship, especially in Alaska. We used our balcony and would do it all again in a heartbeat! Karen We leave Saturday and it doesnt look really cold..did you bring a really heavy jacket, I wasnt going to..have been there before several past years and by layering, average weight coat was fine..your opinion this year please.. Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queenk2 Posted August 8, 2011 #121 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I brought fleece jackets, sweatshirts, long sleeve tees and a waterproof windbreaker.Layers worked best. The windbreaker served two purposes...rain and chilly wind.Average weight will be fine. On the glaciers and on the water we needed hats and gloves. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillianrose Posted August 8, 2011 #122 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I brought fleece jackets, sweatshirts, long sleeve tees and a waterproof windbreaker.Layers worked best. The windbreaker served two purposes...rain and chilly wind.Average weight will be fine. On the glaciers and on the water we needed hats and gloves. Enjoy! I agree with that, and would add a long scarf for extra warmth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Hughy Posted August 8, 2011 #123 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I agree . we did the June 7th cruise to Kodiak and i've always enjoyed crusing in Alaska even with Holland America. Terry Breen was an excellent Maven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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